This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/africa/6240112.stm
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
Bomb kills Somali cleaning women | Bomb kills Somali cleaning women |
(11 minutes later) | |
A huge roadside bomb has gone off in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, killing at least five people. | A huge roadside bomb has gone off in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, killing at least five people. |
The bomb was hidden under a pile of rubbish in the main Bakara market and four of those killed were women cleaning the streets, witnesses say. | |
The bomb follows a fierce gun battle between heavily armed insurgents and police in the north-east of the city. | The bomb follows a fierce gun battle between heavily armed insurgents and police in the north-east of the city. |
A BBC correspondent says residents feel that last week's dusk-to-dawn curfew has failed to curb the violence. | A BBC correspondent says residents feel that last week's dusk-to-dawn curfew has failed to curb the violence. |
The BBC's Mohammed Olad Hassan in Mogadishu says that hundreds of police officers have sealed off the area after the market bomb. | The BBC's Mohammed Olad Hassan in Mogadishu says that hundreds of police officers have sealed off the area after the market bomb. |
"It was an ugly scene with blood everywhere. I could not count the dead, I just glanced at once and ran away for my life," businesswoman Hawa Jama told Reuters news agency. | |
Food aid deaths | Food aid deaths |
The gun battle was sparked by an ambush on a police patrol in north-eastern Mogadishu - seen as an insurgent stronghold. | |
Our reporter says that most of the area's residents have fled. | Our reporter says that most of the area's residents have fled. |
This is the first time there have been face-to-face clashes since the curfew was imposed last week. | This is the first time there have been face-to-face clashes since the curfew was imposed last week. |
Civilians are often caught up in the violenceThere are no details yet of any casualties from the fighting, in which insurgents used rocket-propelled grenades and heavy machine guns. | |
The insurgents are believed to be Islamist fighters and gunmen from the Hawiye clan - the largest in Mogadishu. | The insurgents are believed to be Islamist fighters and gunmen from the Hawiye clan - the largest in Mogadishu. |
On Monday, at least three people were killed after security forces opened fire at a crowd demanding food aid in Mogadishu. | On Monday, at least three people were killed after security forces opened fire at a crowd demanding food aid in Mogadishu. |
Hundreds of people tried to storm a police station where food was being handed out, they say. | Hundreds of people tried to storm a police station where food was being handed out, they say. |
"Police opened fire and killed five people," said Abdiqadir Mohamed Ilbir, as he wept for his brother, who was among the dead. | "Police opened fire and killed five people," said Abdiqadir Mohamed Ilbir, as he wept for his brother, who was among the dead. |
Meanwhile, the 1,600 Ugandan peacekeepers in Somalia have reportedly been paid. | Meanwhile, the 1,600 Ugandan peacekeepers in Somalia have reportedly been paid. |
They had been unhappy at a delay in their payments since they were deployed as the first contingent of a proposed 8,000-strong African Union force. | They had been unhappy at a delay in their payments since they were deployed as the first contingent of a proposed 8,000-strong African Union force. |
Somalia has been racked by violence since it last had a government in 1991. | Somalia has been racked by violence since it last had a government in 1991. |
Ethiopian and government troops ousted the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC), the Islamist group that controlled most of Somalia for six months last year, in December. | Ethiopian and government troops ousted the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC), the Islamist group that controlled most of Somalia for six months last year, in December. |
The government is planning a national reconciliation conference next month but Islamist leaders and a growing number of other Somali groups say they will not take part in any peace negotiations until the Ethiopians leave their country. | The government is planning a national reconciliation conference next month but Islamist leaders and a growing number of other Somali groups say they will not take part in any peace negotiations until the Ethiopians leave their country. |