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Grenade attack on Somalia cinema | Grenade attack on Somalia cinema |
(about 3 hours later) | |
A grenade thrown at a cinema in the central Somali town of Baidoa has killed five people and injured nine. | A grenade thrown at a cinema in the central Somali town of Baidoa has killed five people and injured nine. |
Eyewitnesses say the video hall, known to have shown films that have had naked scenes, was packed with people. | Eyewitnesses say the video hall, known to have shown films that have had naked scenes, was packed with people. |
In the capital, Mogadishu, unidentified gunmen have thrown grenades at road junctions, killing at least one person. | In the capital, Mogadishu, unidentified gunmen have thrown grenades at road junctions, killing at least one person. |
The attacks come as the United States handed over $4m in development aid to Somalia, some of it earmarked for twice-postponed peace talks. | The attacks come as the United States handed over $4m in development aid to Somalia, some of it earmarked for twice-postponed peace talks. |
Government critics say convening the reconciliation conference while Ethiopian troops are in Mogadishu is pointless. | Government critics say convening the reconciliation conference while Ethiopian troops are in Mogadishu is pointless. |
Ethiopian soldiers have been in Somalia since December, when they helped oust an Islamist group that had taken power. | Ethiopian soldiers have been in Somalia since December, when they helped oust an Islamist group that had taken power. |
Islamists and Mogadishu's dominant Hawiye clan are opposed to Ethiopia's presence in Somalia. | Islamists and Mogadishu's dominant Hawiye clan are opposed to Ethiopia's presence in Somalia. |
'Immorality' | 'Immorality' |
Correspondents say the motive for the attack in Baidoa on Thursday night is not yet known. | Correspondents say the motive for the attack in Baidoa on Thursday night is not yet known. |
But residents in the area had complained to the cinema owner because some of the films being screened had scenes of nudity. | But residents in the area had complained to the cinema owner because some of the films being screened had scenes of nudity. |
Militant Islamists, who have been fighting the interim government, have often broken up public viewings of Indian and Western films, which they say promote immorality. | Militant Islamists, who have been fighting the interim government, have often broken up public viewings of Indian and Western films, which they say promote immorality. |
The BBC's Mohammed Olad Hassan in Mogadishu says the grenade attacks took place at the Sana and Afarta Jaridna junctions in the north of the city. | The BBC's Mohammed Olad Hassan in Mogadishu says the grenade attacks took place at the Sana and Afarta Jaridna junctions in the north of the city. |
Eyewitnesses say two Ethiopian soldiers and a civilian were wounded at Sana junction and at least one person was killed and two injured at Afarta Jaridna, where the grenade was hurled at a passing government vehicle. | Eyewitnesses say two Ethiopian soldiers and a civilian were wounded at Sana junction and at least one person was killed and two injured at Afarta Jaridna, where the grenade was hurled at a passing government vehicle. |
One government soldier was seen lying in the street, but it is not known if he died. | One government soldier was seen lying in the street, but it is not known if he died. |
On Friday morning, Ethiopian troops displayed a wide range of weaponry confiscated during house-to-house searches - an extensive operation started in late April after Ethiopian-backed forces drove insurgents from the northern suburbs. | On Friday morning, Ethiopian troops displayed a wide range of weaponry confiscated during house-to-house searches - an extensive operation started in late April after Ethiopian-backed forces drove insurgents from the northern suburbs. |
The weapons - including a large number of rocket-propelled grenades, launchers and mortar bombs - have been handed over to the African Union mission in the city. | The weapons - including a large number of rocket-propelled grenades, launchers and mortar bombs - have been handed over to the African Union mission in the city. |
But warlord and MP Osman Ali Atto accused the Ethiopian troops of taking money and valuables from his house while they were searching for weapons. | |
Some 1,600 Ugandan troops are in Mogadishu, the first contingent of a proposed 8,000-strong AU force. | Some 1,600 Ugandan troops are in Mogadishu, the first contingent of a proposed 8,000-strong AU force. |
'Dangerous' | 'Dangerous' |
Meanwhile, in Kenya's capital, Nairobi, the US ambassador to Kenya Michael Ranneberger has presided over an official ceremony to hand over the $4m aid money. | Meanwhile, in Kenya's capital, Nairobi, the US ambassador to Kenya Michael Ranneberger has presided over an official ceremony to hand over the $4m aid money. |
What the government lacks is a lot of funding - we're talking in the hundreds of millions of dollars Ali AbdillahiSomali government adviser | What the government lacks is a lot of funding - we're talking in the hundreds of millions of dollars Ali AbdillahiSomali government adviser |
It includes $1.25m for reconciliation conference, a US embassy statement said. | It includes $1.25m for reconciliation conference, a US embassy statement said. |
The money is to be channelled through the UN Development Programme and correspondents say no Somali government officials were at the ceremony. | The money is to be channelled through the UN Development Programme and correspondents say no Somali government officials were at the ceremony. |
Some analysts have called for funding to go directly to the government to enable it to establish itself and its authority. | Some analysts have called for funding to go directly to the government to enable it to establish itself and its authority. |
"What the government lacks is a lot of funding," Ali Abdillahi, a Nairobi-based adviser to the Somali government, told the BBC's Network Africa programme. | "What the government lacks is a lot of funding," Ali Abdillahi, a Nairobi-based adviser to the Somali government, told the BBC's Network Africa programme. |
"We're talking in the hundreds of millions of dollars - that's what can bring in good governance and development." | "We're talking in the hundreds of millions of dollars - that's what can bring in good governance and development." |
For too long the country's finances have been in the hands of the development agencies, Mr Abdillahi said. | For too long the country's finances have been in the hands of the development agencies, Mr Abdillahi said. |
"That's dangerous as far as state security or state development is concerned because the international community should have engaged the transitional federal government directly." | "That's dangerous as far as state security or state development is concerned because the international community should have engaged the transitional federal government directly." |
Somalia has been without a functioning government since 1991. | Somalia has been without a functioning government since 1991. |