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| Fire engulfs main Somali market | Fire engulfs main Somali market |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| At least one person has died and property worth millions of dollars destroyed after fire engulfed the main market in Somalia's capital, Mogadishu. | At least one person has died and property worth millions of dollars destroyed after fire engulfed the main market in Somalia's capital, Mogadishu. |
| Several looters were injured during an explosion at one of the shops in Bakara market believed to be selling arms. | Several looters were injured during an explosion at one of the shops in Bakara market believed to be selling arms. |
| Bakara market has been the hub of commercial activities in Somalia since the fall of Siad Barre 16 years ago. | Bakara market has been the hub of commercial activities in Somalia since the fall of Siad Barre 16 years ago. |
| But government forces say the market is a hideout for insurgents responsible for attacks against its troops. | But government forces say the market is a hideout for insurgents responsible for attacks against its troops. |
| Mogadishu has seen a rise in violence since Ethiopian-backed government troops ousted Islamists last December. | Mogadishu has seen a rise in violence since Ethiopian-backed government troops ousted Islamists last December. |
| Ruin for many | Ruin for many |
| Market trader Mohamed Ali Ahmed told AP news agency he was now ruined. "My shop was burnt to ashes, nothing is left," he said. | Market trader Mohamed Ali Ahmed told AP news agency he was now ruined. "My shop was burnt to ashes, nothing is left," he said. |
| "I used to give help to people but now I am afraid I will be a freeloader myself." | "I used to give help to people but now I am afraid I will be a freeloader myself." |
| Prime Minister Ali Mohammed Ghedi expressed his regret when he appeared on a local radio station. | Prime Minister Ali Mohammed Ghedi expressed his regret when he appeared on a local radio station. |
| Traders at the market say the cause of the fire is unknown but they suspect it was started during a fight between insurgents and government forces. | Traders at the market say the cause of the fire is unknown but they suspect it was started during a fight between insurgents and government forces. |
| The BBC's Mohammed Olad Hassan in Mogadishu says the fire began on Tuesday night and spread rapidly to shops selling clothes, household goods and jewellery. | The BBC's Mohammed Olad Hassan in Mogadishu says the fire began on Tuesday night and spread rapidly to shops selling clothes, household goods and jewellery. |
| Business stalls covering about a quarter of the market were reduced to ashes by the inferno. Lack of fire fighting equipment and insecurity in Mogadishu slowed down efforts to put out the fire. | |
| About 85% of people living in Mogadishu depend on the market for all their essential goods while traders from across Somalia source merchandise from Bakara. | |
| It is the only wholesale market in war ravaged Somalia and goods from there are sometimes exported to neighbouring Kenya and Ethiopia. |