Somali hit-and-run attacks kill 6

2007-01-12 14:42

Mogadishu - Clan gunmen fired a rocket-propelled grenade and briefly exchanged gunfire with the government troops outside the presidential residence in Somalia on Friday, leaving at least six dead in the latest hit-and-run attack there.

A reporter at the scene counted six dead bodies, and was told that one other person was killed. Attacks against government troops and their Ethiopian reinforcements had been increasing in frequency, if not violence, in recent days.

In Friday's attack, troops loyal to clan leader Mohamed Qanyare Afrah fired on militiamen loyal to the president, who belonged to a rival clan.

Mohammed Said Dore, who was in the area, said: "Gunmen have fired one rocket-propelled grenade at one of the entrances of the presidential palace in villa Somalia. The people in the area have fled.

"Then security forces and Ethiopian troops manning the site exchanged fire with gunmen for about ten minutes. After that, the gunmen fled."

Ali Mohammed, a member of the presidential guard, said all of the dead were from Qanyare's militia and that 10 others had been arrested.

Abdiqadir Hussien Hassan, a government official who worked in the presidential compound, said it was not clear what triggered the fighting.

But, Qanyare had long controlled much of Mogadishu with his clan militia and had competed with President Abdullahi Yusuf for political power.

Hassan said: "Government officials are trying to bring the situation back to normal."

- AP