MOGADISHU, Somalia Mar 21 2012 (Garowe Online) – President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed accompanied by his bodyguards took a midnight walk in Mogadishu, in an attempt to assess security nearby the presidential palace, Radio Garowe reports.

At 1am, TFG President Sharif, accompanied by his Minister of Interior and Security Abdisamad Ma’alin Mohamed and military officials, visited major junctions in Mogadishu like KM4 and Tarbunku overnight Tuesday where he spoke briefly with troops stationed at the junctions.

Although officials say that president Sharif’s walk was not planned, security in Mogadishu was tightened at 7 pm and major roads were shut down as Transitional Federal Government (TFG) troops and police authorities flooded the streets of Mogadishu.      

Presidential palace attacks

For the third time the presidential palace in Mogadishu was attacked by Al Shabaab insurgents on Monday. Al Shabaab spokesman Sheikh Ali Mohamed Rage who released a statement on Wednesday said that his agents are living in Mogadishu despite the TFG’s announcement of ridding Al Shabaab from the city.  

"We have attacked the presidential palace three times; they are battling us in other regions but are not safe in their homes," said Rage.

The three attacks on the presidential palace have resulted in over 10 deaths all of whom were civilians. Although the terror group insists the attacks killed AMISOM and TFG troops, both AMISOM and TFG authorities say that the statements are untrue adding that attacks led to civilian casualties.

GAROWE ONLINE