Gunmen kill two men, injure Swedish politician in Mogadishu
Iran Press TV
Wed Aug 21, 2013 5:40PM GMT
Unknown gunmen have opened fire at a vehicle in Somali capital, Mogadishu, killing at least two men and injuring a Swedish politician.
The attack occurred on Wednesday in a busy area in central Mogadishu near the Turkish Embassy, after the gunmen ambushed the car carrying the Swedish politician known as Ann-Margarethe Livh, group leader of the Left Party in Stockholm city council.
According to police officials, the Swedish woman was accompanied by her translator, a Somali man, and a police officer guarding her.
Witnesses say Livh was returning from the University of Somalia where she had given a speech earlier.
Police have launched an investigation into the deadly incident.
The woman was reportedly sent to hospital for medical treatment.
Following the attack, Swedish Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Lena Tranberg issued a statement saying preparations were under way to transfer the women to a hospital in Kenya.
No group has claimed responsibility for the deadly attack, but the Somali officials lay the blame on local al-Shabab fighters who have carried out similar assaults in the past.
In June, 15 people were killed in an attack on the main UN compound in Mogadishu.
Following the attack, a senior al-Shabab official said, “Our commandos have attacked the UN compound ... we set off an explosion and have entered the compound.”
The Somali capital has been the scene of frequent attacks since the fighters were driven out of the city two years ago.
The al-Shabab group has vowed to topple President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who took office in September 2012 after being chosen by the country's parliament.
MAM/SS
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