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| Somali shoppers killed by shells | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| At least 20 people have been killed after shells were fired at the main market in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, witnesses say. | |
| Islamist insurgents fired mortars at the presidential palace from positions in the Bakara market, a BBC correspondent in the city reports. | Islamist insurgents fired mortars at the presidential palace from positions in the Bakara market, a BBC correspondent in the city reports. |
| Government troops and their Ethiopian allies responded and a shell landed in a busy part of the market. | Government troops and their Ethiopian allies responded and a shell landed in a busy part of the market. |
| Meanwhile, a landmine has killed a UN driver in the southern port of Merca. | Meanwhile, a landmine has killed a UN driver in the southern port of Merca. |
| An Italian and a Somali official who were also in the vehicle are being treated for their injuries, which are not life-threatening, a local doctor said. | An Italian and a Somali official who were also in the vehicle are being treated for their injuries, which are not life-threatening, a local doctor said. |
| Separately, a BBC reporter said two government soldiers had been killed in an attack at Mogadishu's strategic K-4 junction, where some African Union peacekeepers are stationed. | |
| 'Appalling situation' | 'Appalling situation' |
| The attacks come as the UN has started to pull out its foreign staff from the town of Baidoa. | |
| UN sources have told the BBC they are leaving the town, where Somalia's parliament is based, because of fears that the violence in Mogadishu could spread. | UN sources have told the BBC they are leaving the town, where Somalia's parliament is based, because of fears that the violence in Mogadishu could spread. |
| Ghost city wracked by war Video: In Somalia's danger zone Baidoa, a strategic town on the main road from Mogadishu to Ethiopia, is one of the few parts of Somalia under government control, correspondents say. | Ghost city wracked by war Video: In Somalia's danger zone Baidoa, a strategic town on the main road from Mogadishu to Ethiopia, is one of the few parts of Somalia under government control, correspondents say. |
| In the capital, Bakara trader Abdulahi Hassan said he had seen 15 bodies outside his shop. | In the capital, Bakara trader Abdulahi Hassan said he had seen 15 bodies outside his shop. |
| "A mortar first landed, killing two people. Many people rushed to the scene and then as they crowded another one landed, killing 13 others on the spot," he said. | "A mortar first landed, killing two people. Many people rushed to the scene and then as they crowded another one landed, killing 13 others on the spot," he said. |
| Another Mogadishu resident, Safiya Haji Nor, said the insurgents' mortar had landed on a house, killing a man and a 13-year-old child. | Another Mogadishu resident, Safiya Haji Nor, said the insurgents' mortar had landed on a house, killing a man and a 13-year-old child. |
| A further three people were killed in during the shelling, witnesses said. | |
| Seventeen years of fighting in Somalia has left more than three million people - almost half the population - needing food aid, according to the World Food Programme. | Seventeen years of fighting in Somalia has left more than three million people - almost half the population - needing food aid, according to the World Food Programme. |
| "The situation is appalling and it is worsening with this growing insecurity," WFP spokesman Peter Smerdon told the BBC. | "The situation is appalling and it is worsening with this growing insecurity," WFP spokesman Peter Smerdon told the BBC. |
| The latest deaths come after a coalition of 52 aid agencies issued a statement saying the international community had "completely failed Somali civilians". | The latest deaths come after a coalition of 52 aid agencies issued a statement saying the international community had "completely failed Somali civilians". |
| The aid groups estimated that almost 40,000 people had been displaced from Mogadishu in the last few weeks, with 1.1 million uprooted in the last nine months. | The aid groups estimated that almost 40,000 people had been displaced from Mogadishu in the last few weeks, with 1.1 million uprooted in the last nine months. |
| Human Right Watch said Somalia was the most ignored tragedy in the world. | Human Right Watch said Somalia was the most ignored tragedy in the world. |
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| Are you in Mogadishu? Tell us what is happening where you are using the form below: | Are you in Mogadishu? Tell us what is happening where you are using the form below: |
| In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. | In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. |