Violence wracks Somalia
Source: Agencies |
August 25, 2010, Wednesday
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A SUICIDE bomber and gunmen wearing military uniforms attacked a hotel near Somalia's presidential palace yesterday, sparking a one-hour gun battle with security forces. At least 32 people were killed, including six Somali parliamentarians.
Witnesses described a horrific scene of dead bodies throughout the Muna Hotel and guests scrambling to safety by escaping out of windows.
The multi-pronged assault came less than 24 hours after the country's most dangerous militant group - al-Shabab, a group allied with al-Qaida - threatened a "massive" war against what it labeled as invaders, a reference to the 6,000 African Union troops in Mogadishu.
The attack on the Muna Hotel raised the toll to at least 70 people, a high number even by Mogadishu's violent standards. Fighting that rocked Mogadishu yesterday killed 40 people, health officials said.
Somalia's deputy prime minister said 19 civilians, six members of parliament, five security forces and two hotel workers were killed in the attack - a total of 32. Two attackers also were killed, said Deputy Prime Minister Abdirahman Haji Aden Ibi.
An 11-year-old shoe shine boy and a woman selling tea in front of the hotel were among the dead, an African Union spokesman said.
"They have no motive other than to terrorize the Somali people. This is a deplorable act in this holy month of Ramadan. It shows their brutality and lack of respect for humanity," said Abdirahman Omar Osman, Somalia's information minister.
A survivor described a frenzied, one-hour battle inside the four-floor, US$10-a-night hotel.
Saynab Qayad, a member of parliament staying at the hotel, said she was jolted awake by the popping sound of bullets. Three members of parliament staying on the fourth floor had drawn their guns while other guests scrambled to safety by escaping out the windows, she said.
"Smoke filled my room after bullets smashed my window. I hid myself in a corner of the room. Then a guest next door came to my door, screaming 'Come out! Come out!' And when I came out bullets continued to fly around," she said.
"I went back to my room and locked my door. Shortly afterward, the hotel staff asked me to come down and put me in a room at the second floor with four other survivors," she said. "The body of a member of parliament was lying at that small room's door."
Sheik Ali Mohamud Rage, a spokesman for the al-Shabab militia, said that members of the group's "special forces" had carried out the attack against those "aiding the infidels."
In its first international attack, al-Shabab last month claimed responsibility for twin bombings in Uganda's capital during the World Cup final that killed 76 people.
Witnesses described a horrific scene of dead bodies throughout the Muna Hotel and guests scrambling to safety by escaping out of windows.
The multi-pronged assault came less than 24 hours after the country's most dangerous militant group - al-Shabab, a group allied with al-Qaida - threatened a "massive" war against what it labeled as invaders, a reference to the 6,000 African Union troops in Mogadishu.
The attack on the Muna Hotel raised the toll to at least 70 people, a high number even by Mogadishu's violent standards. Fighting that rocked Mogadishu yesterday killed 40 people, health officials said.
Somalia's deputy prime minister said 19 civilians, six members of parliament, five security forces and two hotel workers were killed in the attack - a total of 32. Two attackers also were killed, said Deputy Prime Minister Abdirahman Haji Aden Ibi.
An 11-year-old shoe shine boy and a woman selling tea in front of the hotel were among the dead, an African Union spokesman said.
"They have no motive other than to terrorize the Somali people. This is a deplorable act in this holy month of Ramadan. It shows their brutality and lack of respect for humanity," said Abdirahman Omar Osman, Somalia's information minister.
A survivor described a frenzied, one-hour battle inside the four-floor, US$10-a-night hotel.
Saynab Qayad, a member of parliament staying at the hotel, said she was jolted awake by the popping sound of bullets. Three members of parliament staying on the fourth floor had drawn their guns while other guests scrambled to safety by escaping out the windows, she said.
"Smoke filled my room after bullets smashed my window. I hid myself in a corner of the room. Then a guest next door came to my door, screaming 'Come out! Come out!' And when I came out bullets continued to fly around," she said.
"I went back to my room and locked my door. Shortly afterward, the hotel staff asked me to come down and put me in a room at the second floor with four other survivors," she said. "The body of a member of parliament was lying at that small room's door."
Sheik Ali Mohamud Rage, a spokesman for the al-Shabab militia, said that members of the group's "special forces" had carried out the attack against those "aiding the infidels."
In its first international attack, al-Shabab last month claimed responsibility for twin bombings in Uganda's capital during the World Cup final that killed 76 people.
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