Somalia
7 killed as mortars rain down on Somalia parliament building
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Apr 25, 2009 - 3:08:43 PM

MOGADISHU, Somalia Apr 25 (Garowe Online) - At least 7 people including civilians were killed Saturday in the Somali capital Mogadishu after suspected insurgents targeted the parliament building with mortars, Radio Garowe reports.

At least three of the mortars hit inside the parliament building, which is located in Mogadishu's Abdiaziz district.

Somali lawmakers had voted and approved the government's three-month temporary budget hours prior to the attack, Speaker Aden Madobe said.

No lawmaker was hurt during the attack but one police officer was killed inside the parliament building.

Separately, a mortar that hit a house located behind the parliament building killed at least five civilians, including schoolchildren.

"A mortar hit Hotel Global, killing students," a female witness told Mogadishu radio stations.

In Shibis district, a woman was killed when a separate mortar hit her home.

Somali police official Gen. Yusuf Dhumal told a press conference afterwards the mortars hit targets in Abdiaziz and Shibis districts, including the parliament building.

"The anti-peace groups are responsible for these attacks," Gen. Dhumal said, vowing that the Somali government will take steps against the insurgent groups.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, but Islamist hardliners like Al Shabaab and Hizbul Islam have refused to recognize the interim government of President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed, a former ally in the Islamic Courts movement.

Source: Garowe Online