Four peacekeepers killed in Somalia
August 30th, 2010 - 11:20 pm ICT by IANSMogadishu, Aug 30 (DPA) Four African Union peacekeepers were among 10 people killed in the Somali capital Mogadishu Monday as the Horn of Africa nation’s president called for help against a growing insurgency.
The radical Islamist group al-Shabaab, which is battling to oust the weak Western-backed government, last Monday launched an offensive against the government and AU peacekeepers.
Major Barigye Ba-Hoku, spokesman for the AU peacekeeping mission known as AMISOM, told DPA that four Ugandan soldiers were killed when an insurgent mortar hit the presidential palace.
Stray shells elsewhere landed in civilian areas, officials said.
“We have collected six dead bodies and 20 wounded people, mainly in the Bakara Market,” Ali Muse, head of the Mogadishu ambulance service, told DPA.
Almost 100 people have died since the onslaught began, including 33 in a suicide attack on a hotel that killed four lawmakers.
An al-Shabaab spokesman said that the group had seized ground from the government, which is penned into a few enclaves in Mogadishu, protected by AMISOM.
President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed appealed for more international help against the Al Qaeda-aligned militants.
“It is quite impractical to expect Somalia alone to contain the evil Al Qaeda-al-Shabaab alliance, as we are emerging from 20 years of destruction and a chaotic political environment,” he said in a statement.
Approximately 6,000 peacekeepers from Uganda and Burundi are propping up the government, although deployment of an extra 2,000 troops pledged by East African grouping IGAD has begun.
Uganda is keen to send more soldiers to Somalia after al-Shabaab bombed Uganda’s capital Kampala - its first attack on foreign soil - in July, killing 76.
The insurgents said they carried out the bombing in retaliation for the actions of Ugandan peacekeepers in Mogadishu.
The current insurgency, which has claimed more than 21,000 lives, kicked off in early 2007, following Ethiopia’s invasion to oust the ruling Islamist regime.
Al-Shabaab has grown in strength in recent times, backed by an influx of foreign fighters from Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Somalia has been immersed in chaos since the 1991 ouster of dictator Mohamed Siad Barre.
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- Politicians among 60 dead in Somalia clashes (Second Lead) - Aug 24, 2010
- Roadside bomb kills eight in Somalia - Sep 01, 2010
- 10 dead in suicide blast at Mogadishu airport - Sep 09, 2010
- 23 killed, dozens injured in Somalia fighting - Jun 03, 2010
- Al-Qaeda linked group claims Mogadishu suicide blasts - Sep 10, 2010
- Al-Shabaab militants withdraw from Somali capital - Aug 07, 2011
- Somali insurgents back Al Qaeda, clashes claim 16 lives - Feb 01, 2010
- Four men admit to Uganda bombings - Aug 13, 2010
- African Union calls for military aid to Somalia - Sep 19, 2009
- 26 die after attack on Somali parliament - May 17, 2010
- Somali rebel leader calls for more attacks on peacekeeping forces - Sep 21, 2009
- 15 dead, 25 injured in fresh clashes in Somalia - Aug 28, 2010
- At least 32 dead, including MPs, after hotel attack in Somalia - Aug 25, 2010
- Uganda bomb blast shows Al Shabaab's intent to attack the US homeland - Jul 13, 2010
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