From: Berhane Habtemariam (Berhane.Habtemariam@gmx.de)
Date: Thu Sep 17 2009 - 09:09:30 EDT
Suicide car bombers strike AU base in Mogadishu
Thu Sep 17, 2009 12:39pm GMT
* Rebels say avenging U.S. killing of al Qaeda suspect
* Several peacekeepers wounded
* Insurgents set demands for hostage release
(Updates with AU statement, quotes, details)
By Ibrahim Mohamed
MOGADISHU, Sept 17 (Reuters) - Somali insurgents detonated two suicide car
bombs at an African Union (AU) peacekeeping base in Mogadishu on Thursday in
what the rebels called revenge for this week's U.S. killing of a top al
Qaeda suspect.
A Reuters reporter saw six wounded soldiers being carried away from the site
of the explosions, some bleeding heavily, while thick smoke poured into the
sky over Somalia's capital.
Witnesses said AU troops had died, along with some Somalis who had been
waiting for medical treatment at the AU base, but the number of casualties
was not immediately clear.
It looked to be the worst attack on the peacekeepers since 11 Burundians
were killed and 28 wounded in February by two suicide bombers -- one in a
car, one with a suicide vest -- who infiltrated their base. It also followed
one of the most violent months the city has seen in 20 years. [ID:nLA092532]
Western security agencies say lawless Somalia has become a safe haven for
militants, including foreign jihadists, who are using it to plot attacks
across the region and beyond.
Al Shabaab's spokesman, Sheikh Ali Mohamud Rage, said Thursday's attacks
were to avenge the death of Kenyan-born Salah Ali Saleh Nabhan, who was
killed in southern Somalia on Monday during a raid by U.S. special forces.
"We have got our revenge for our brother Nabhan. Two suicide car bombs
targeting the AU base, praise Allah," he told Reuters.
"It took place at noon on the 27th of Ramadan, the best blessing. We knew
the infidel government and AU troops planned to attack us after the holy
month. This is a message to them."
Nabhan, 28, had been allied with al Shabaab, which Washington accuses of
being al Qaeda's proxy in Somalia.
Thursday's attack is likely to deter African nations including Nigeria and
Djibouti that have agreed to send soldiers to reinforce the AU mission --
but have yet to do so.
HOSTAGE DEMANDS
Witnesses said two vehicles with U.N. markings entered the coastal airport
base of the 5,000-strong AMISOM mission (African Union Mission in Somalia)
unchallenged before blowing up. The force is comprised of troops from
Burundi and Uganda.
The AU's special representative for Somalia, Nicolas Bwakira, condemned the
attack in a statement.
"At least two bombs exploded at the force headquarters at about midday ...
causing injuries and damage to AMISOM peacekeepers, facilities and
equipment," he said.
"Despite this barbaric attack, the African Union remains resolute in its
commitment to support the Somali people and the ... government in their
peace and reconciliation efforts."
Local man Farah Hassan said two U.N.-marked cars drove into the base
followed by two pick-ups carrying government troops.
"We thought they were real U.N. cars carrying white people, but moments
later deafening thunder shook the ground," he told Reuters. "The area was
covered with flames and clouds of smoke."
The bombings also came just hours after al Shabaab issued demands in return
for the release of a French security consultant the group is holding
hostage, including an immediate end to French support for Somalia's fragile
government.
The French hostage is one of two security consultants kidnapped by gunmen in
Mogadishu in July. His colleague managed to escape on Aug. 26.
[ID:nLQ103641]
In return for his release, al Shabaab demanded the "immediate cessation of
any political or military support to the apostate government of Somalia and
the withdrawal of all its security advisers in Somalia", the rebels said in
a statement.
They demanded the withdrawal of the AU troops supporting President Sheikh
Sharif Ahmed's administration and the departure of French warships trying to
stamp out piracy in Somali waters.
The insurgents' statement also called for the release of mujahideen
prisoners in countries to be named later.
Fighting in Somalia has killed more than 18,000 civilians since the start of
2007 and left another 1.5 million homeless. (Additional reporting by Abdi
Sheikh; Writing by Daniel Wallis; Editing by David Clarke and Jon Hemming)
C Thomson Reuters 2009 All rights reserved
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