SOMALIA: Funerals have been held in Mogadishu for a mother and daughter killed in an overnight mortar attack in the Somali capital

Record ID: 352785

  • Title: SOMALIA: Funerals have been held in Mogadishu for a mother and daughter killed in an overnight mortar attack in the Somali capital
  • Date: 20th March 2007
  • Summary: BABY AND CHILD LYING ON BLANKETS AFTER THEIR HOUSE WAS DESTROYED IN THE MORTAR ATTACK
  • Embargoed: 4th April 2007 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Somalia
  • Country: Somalia
  • Topics: War / Fighting,Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA4NU9M6R3KQI3TDQ0L8BUIFUE8
  • Story Text: Funerals have been held in Mogadishu for a mother and daughter killed in an overnight mortar attack in the Somali capital.
    A barrage of mortar bombs on the Somali capital Mogadishu on Monday night (March 19) killed at least two people and wounded several in what appeared to be the heaviest bombardment for weeks.
    A mother and daughter died in one neighbourhood as more than 20 rounds crashed into areas including the Bakara Market, the police transport headquarters and streets around the seaport where Ugandan peacekeepers earlier set up defences.
    One resident said government forces and Ethiopian troops fired back with artillery. Five people were wounded in the market, and at least three others hurt elsewhere.
    Funerals were held on Tuesday (March 20) for the woman and her daughter who died in the attack.
    "Mortars hit our area last night and near the sea port. We ran in different directions but unfortunately two of our family members died and two others were injured," said Abdirahman Ahmed, the son of the woman who died in the attack.
    Near daily attacks have been blamed on hardline remnants of an Islamist movement defeated two months ago. The United Nations says more than 40,000 people fled the capital in February alone.
    "Look they fired this one at us and we don't have anywhere to run to," said Mogadishu resident Hawa Ali as she threw a piece of spent mortar shell onto the ground.
    About 1,200 African Union peacekeepers from Uganda tightened security at the seaport ahead of a delivery of military hardware.
    Somalia's interim government says the coming two weeks will be crucial in proving it can get the security situation in Mogadishu under control so the city to host a meeting of clan leaders and former warlords next month.
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