AU condemns killing of Somali ministers

  1. Posted on Thursday 3 December 2009 - 15:00
    Muhyadin
    Muhyadin Ahmed Roble, AfricaNews reporter in Nairobi, Kenya
    The African Union has condemned a bomb explosion which killed at least 19 people, including three government ministers and two journalists in the Somali capital Mogadishu. A suicide bomber disguised as a woman and attacked a crowded graduation ceremony for medical students from a local university.
    somalia pres.
    The killed Somali ministers include Qamar Aden Ali, the country's health minister, Ahmed Abdulahi Waayeel, the minister of education, and Ibrahim Hassan Addow, the minister of higher education.

    Dubai-based Al Arabiya Television said one of its cameramen, Hasan al-Zubair, had been killed while Shabelle Media has already reported that its journalist Mohamed Amin Adan shabelle was killed in the event as well.

    Islamists are fighting the UN-backed government, which controls small pockets of territory in the country.

    Somalia's President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmad described the attack as a national disaster.

    Information Minister Dahir Mohamud Gelle said the male bomber had been dressed in women's clothing, "complete with a veil and a female's shoes," according to the BBC.

    AMISOM in a statement said: "AMISOM wishes to state that such inhumane and cowardly act aimed at stalling the peace process will not deter the resolve and determination of the African Union to support the people of Somalia in their quest for peace and reconciliation."

    AfricaNews reporter in the country, Muhyadin Ahmed Roble, reports that some of the wounded people, including Sports Minister Suleiman Olad Roble who was seriously injured manager of Banadir Hospital Dr Abdi risaq Hassan Ali as well as seven other Journalists.

    The death toll is expected to rise while some of those wounded are reported to be in serious situation.

    No group has yet claimed the responsibility for the bomb but government officials accused of Islamist rebel of Al-shabaab.

    Somalia has not had an effective government since warlords overthrew longtime dictator Moham iv.

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