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Somali talks bombs kill children Somali talks bombs kill children
(about 1 hour later)
At least five Somali children have been killed in a mortar shell attack, say witnesses, as a reconciliation conference finally opened in Mogadishu.At least five Somali children have been killed in a mortar shell attack, say witnesses, as a reconciliation conference finally opened in Mogadishu.
"They missed their target and hit Shibiz district. At least five children died," local resident Abdi Aziz Hussein told the Reuters news agency. "They wanted to undermine the peace process and they missed their target and killed children," said Mogadishu mayor Mohamed Dheere.
At least two people died earlier, after insurgent attacks on a market.At least two people died earlier, after insurgent attacks on a market.
The conference has been repeatedly postponed, with a boycott by Islamists and Mogadishu's clan elders.The conference has been repeatedly postponed, with a boycott by Islamists and Mogadishu's clan elders.
'Historic'
None of the 1,000 conference delegates were hurt in the attack.
Prime Minister Ali Mohamed Ghedi said it was "historic" to be holding the conference, due to last a month, in the Somali capital.
The sky was lit by the explosions Mohamed Abdi, shop owner Mohamed Abdi The delegates were to discuss an 11-point agenda, including clan divisions and holding elections, said conference spokesman Abdirahman Mohamud Shift, according to the AP news agency.
The international community has urged the government to include moderate Islamists in the conference in order to bring peace to Somalia.
But the Islamists and Hawiye clan elders refused to attend, saying the venue is not neutral, while Ethiopian troops remain in the country.
Ethiopia helped government troops oust the Union of Islamic Courts from Mogadishu last December.
Islamist leaders are instead holding a rival meeting in the Eritrean capital, Asmara.
President Abdullahi Yusuf has vowed that the talks would go ahead even if a nuclear bomb was dropped.
Fleeing
There was fierce fighting around Bakara market before the conference opened.
President Yusuf said a nuclear bomb would not stop the talks"The sky was lit by the explosions," grocery shop owner Mohamed Abdi told Reuters news agency.
"They were the heaviest attacks so far on the troops."
The BBC's Mohammed Olad Hassan in Mogadishu says some people have fled the area around Bakara market, where attacks are common.The BBC's Mohammed Olad Hassan in Mogadishu says some people have fled the area around Bakara market, where attacks are common.
Nuclear Several mortar shells landed near the conference venue on Sunday, injuring civilians, when the talks first began.
Islamists had threatened to attack the conference, reports the AP news agency. It was immediately postponed to give some of the delegates more time to arrive.
But President Abdullahi Yusuf said the internationally-backed talks would go ahead even if a nuclear bomb was dropped.
Several mortar shells landed near the venue on Sunday, injuring civilians, when the conference was first opened.
It was immediately postponed to give some of the more than 1,000 delegates more time to arrive.
The main Islamist opposition have refused to attend, saying the venue is not neutral, while Ethiopian troops remain in the country.
Ethiopia helped government troops oust Islamists from Mogadishu last December.
Somalia has been without a functioning government for 16 years.Somalia has been without a functioning government for 16 years.