SOMALIA: Four dead after a car they were travelling in exploded

Record ID: 359192

  • Title: SOMALIA: Four dead after a car they were travelling in exploded
  • Date: 19th February 2007
  • Summary: POLICE HEADQUARTERS MEMBERS OF SPECIAL TASK FORCE WAITING OUTSIDE POLICE HEADQUARTERS
  • Embargoed: 6th March 2007 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Somalia
  • Country: Somalia
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement,Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAEE756TUV6GEVAUW4GL1N3VDY
  • Story Text: Four people were killed when their car exploded in the Somali capital on Sunday (February 18, 2007). It is not clear what caused the blast but police are investigating.
    The blast occurred in northern Mogadishu, next to a football stadium where young boys were playing football.
    Near-daily attacks have rocked the lawless city since the interim government, backed by Ethiopian troops, drove out Islamists in a December war.
    Officials blame remnants of the Islamist movement for the violence. Some Islamist fighters have vowed holy war since being routed from the strongholds they had controlled since June.
    Just before the explosion, Somalia's Deputy Defence Minister Salat Ali Jelle formed a special task force to look into the continuing attacks in the capital and the re-emergence of insurgents.
    "After a long discussion we established this special task force and we request you to do your job well," said Deputy Defense Minister, Salat Ali Jelle.
    Some 1,500 Ugandan troops are to deploy within days to the city as part of an African Union peacekeeping mission to restore stability.
    Somalia has been in anarchy since the 1991 ouster of dictator Mohamed Siad Barre.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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