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Ugandan troops to stay in Somalia Somalia premier escapes bombing
(about 1 hour later)
Uganda will not withdraw its peacekeepers from Somalia despite an attack on a convoy of soldiers while on patrol in the capital, Mogadishu. Somalia's prime minister has escaped unhurt after an apparent attempt to kill him in the capital, Mogadishu.
Army chief Aronda Nyakairima said the "terrorist attack" would not deter them from pacifying Somalia. A bomb was aimed at Ali Mohammed Ghedi's convoy but it is not clear if it exploded. No-one was hurt but one man was arrested, officials say.
Four soldiers were killed in the deadliest attack since 1,600 soldiers were deployed to Somalia in March. The convoy was returning from the airport, where the bodies of four Ugandan peacekeepers were flown home after they were killed on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, a roadside bomb has exploded near the convoy of Somalia's prime minister but no-one is reported hurt. This is the third apparent attempt to kill Mr Ghedi since he took office.
Somalia's government has blamed previous such attacks on al-Qaeda.
"One of two men suspected of planting the bomb was captured on the site," government spokesman Abdullahi Muhyidin Mohamed told Reuters news agency."One of two men suspected of planting the bomb was captured on the site," government spokesman Abdullahi Muhyidin Mohamed told Reuters news agency.
Prime Minister Ali Mohamed Ghedi's convoy was targeted near the former parliament building as he returned from the airport, where the plane carrying the bodies of the dead soldiers was taking off for Uganda.
It is the third apparent attempt to kill him since he took office in 2004.
At least two Somali police officers have been shot dead since Wednesday as they took part in a clear-up operation in the main Bakara market.At least two Somali police officers have been shot dead since Wednesday as they took part in a clear-up operation in the main Bakara market.
The government says al-Qaeda operatives are working in Somalia. 'Terrorist attack'
Uganda says it will not pull out its troops from Somalia, despite Wednesday's attack.
"It is a terrorist attack to try and intimidate our force. But those are kicks of a dying horse," Gen Nyakairima said.
It was the deadliest attack on the Ugandan peacekeepers since 1,600 soldiers were deployed to Somalia in March, as part of an African Union mission.
A proposed 8,000-strong force is due to take over security duties from the Ethiopian army.
The government last month said it had defeated Islamist insurgents after weeks of bloody fighting, which killed some 1,300 people and led some 300,000 to flee their homes.
'Noble action''Noble action'
AU commission chairperson Alpha Omar Konare condemned the attack on the peacekeepers and urged the Uganda soldiers to remain engaged in the "noble action" of helping Somalia.AU commission chairperson Alpha Omar Konare condemned the attack on the peacekeepers and urged the Uganda soldiers to remain engaged in the "noble action" of helping Somalia.
"It is a terrorist attack to try and intimidate our force. But those are kicks of a dying horse," Gen Nyakairima said.
A proposed force of 8,000 Africa Union troops is due to take over security duties from the Ethiopian army.
Ethiopia's troops have been in Mogadishu since December at the invitation of Somalia's transitional government fighting Islamist insurgents and clan militiamen.Ethiopia's troops have been in Mogadishu since December at the invitation of Somalia's transitional government fighting Islamist insurgents and clan militiamen.
The attack came a day after Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf held talks with his Ugandan counterpart Yoweri Museveni in Kampala over the mission.The attack came a day after Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf held talks with his Ugandan counterpart Yoweri Museveni in Kampala over the mission.
Mr Konare appealed to the western government to support the AU mission to enable it carry out its mandate in Somalia. Mr Konare appealed to western governments to support the AU mission to enable it carry out its mandate in Somalia.
Ghana, Malawi, Nigeria and Burundi have pledged to deploy troops for the AU mission but they are yet to announce the dates.Ghana, Malawi, Nigeria and Burundi have pledged to deploy troops for the AU mission but they are yet to announce the dates.