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SOMALIA: IDP camp hit in attack on presidential palace

NAIROBI, 14 March 2007 (IRIN) - A number of internally displaced people were killed when their camp in the Ali Kamin area of the Somali capital, Mogadishu, was hit during an attack on the presidential palace, local residents said.

At least 14 people died and 32 were wounded when unidentified gunmen attacked the palace on Tuesday. The city was reportedly calm on Wednesday, a day after the attack, which occurred as President Abdullahi Yusuf shifted base from the town of Baidoa to the capital.

"These numbers are only the ones we have seen,” a doctor in one of the hospitals said. “Many people, particularly those in [displaced people's] camps don't have the means to go to hospitals and bury their dead and take care of their wounded at home, so the death toll could be higher."

During the attack, the gunmen used mortars and exchanged heavy weapons fire with Ethiopian-backed government forces. Soldiers at the palace, known as Villa Somalia, responded with artillery fire. City resident, Abdullahi Muhammad, said Ali Kamin and Sheikh Sufi areas (close to Villa Somalia), were hardest hit by the exchanges.

"A camp for internally displaced people in Ali Kamin was hit and a number of people were killed; others were wounded," Muhammad said.

In related incidents, gunmen ambushed an Ethiopian military convoy at the Sey Biano area in south Mogadishu. The Ethiopians responded and "at least three people were killed at the scene", a local source told IRIN. Mogadishu deputy mayor, Ibrahim Shaaweye, was also injured when his vehicle hit a remote-controlled explosive device.

The attacks have been blamed on remnants of the Union of Islamic Courts, which was ousted from the city in late December 2006. However, there are claims that several warlords may have a hand in the attacks.

Tuesday's attack took place two days after the government announced it would secure Mogadishu within 30 days, and moved into the city. The president was unhurt.

Many residents have left the city to escape the daily exchange of mortar and artillery fire between the government forces and insurgents. "There are people leaving Sheikh Sufi area today [Wednesday] for a more safe place," Muhammad said.

ah/mw

[ENDS]

Copyright © IRIN 2007
This material comes to you via IRIN, the humanitarian news and analysis service of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. The opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the United Nations or its Member States.
IRIN is a project of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.