SOMALIA: Two children killed in latest wave of bombings

Mogadishu's latest wave of bombings killed at least three people, including two children, and wounded 13 others after insurgents hurled seven grenades at Somali government soldiers based in different neighbourhoods of the capital, including Bakara market.

One person was killed and five injured, including three children, in the latest grenade attack in Bakara.

Witnesses said three of the wounded were the employees of Hormood Telephone Company based in Bakara market. The other two were passersby.

"Gunmen hurled a grenade at the government police moving along the company's outside door. The blast wounded three of our staff and two persons walking by, killing a businessman in the area," explained one of the employees, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals.

An hour earlier, three grenade blasts rocked the market, killing two construction workers who were on the roof and wounding four others.

Witnesses said unknown gunman hurled a grenade at two police forces positioned inside the market.

Bus station blast

A CDCR reporter, Maryan, who was at the scene said the first blast occurred at a bus station in Bakara:

"Minutes after the first bomb blasted, another grenade was thrown at the Somali soldiers who were coming towards the first site of the blast. We could not find out who the casualties were because we had to run for our lives," he said.

Business people in the market have shut down shops and warehouses after a series of bomb explosions and gunshots from Somali soldiers based in and around the market rocked the neighbourhood.

The government believes the market is a safe heaven for Islamic rebels, despite its promises that the military operations would be finalised within a three-day period.

Meanwhile Somalia's president, Abdulahi Yusuf, who held a news conference at top-hill palace on Thursday, said the country's reconciliation conference would take place in the volatile city.

Defiance

"Even if a nuclear bomb explodes in Mogadishu, the conference will happen as scheduled," he said.

Two grenade explosions also occurred in Bar Ubah, and one in Wardhigley neighborhoods.

Ali Ahmed, a witness in Wardhigley, told CDCR that he saw four people being rushed to hospital after the blast. "I saw four people who got wounded in the blast. They were severely bleeding," he said.

He said he could not tell whether it was a roadside bomb or a grenade. The area is frequented by Ethiopian troops.

Suspected Insurgents also fired at least five mortar rounds at the presidential compound last night.

Officials said on Thursday that three mortars hit the walls of the compound and two landed at a residential area near the president's house, killing two civilians.

Face to face gun battles also took place in Hawlwadag and Wardhigley neighbourhoods, south of the capital, minutes after the mortar attacks. Unknown gunmen and government soldiers based in those areas clashed, exchanging gunfire and rocket propelled grenades.

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