Shabelle Media Network (Mogadishu)
Aweys Osman Yusuf
12 July 2007
Mogadishu — A large of number of Somali families fleeing the ongoing mortar and grenade explosions in the capital, Mogadishu, could be seen in the streets and at bus stations intending to travel to the nearby provinces to safe their lives.
Our reporter, Kadiye, said he saw a large number of women and children carrying some of their households and traveling to Lower Shabelle province in southern Somalia.
"People gave up hope of living in Mogadishu after last night's mortar attacks at the presidential palace and neighborhoods closer to Villa Somalia. Most of them told me they were traveling to Merca, 100 KM south of Mogadishu," he said.
"My children and I have been very scared last night because the mortar bombs hit near our home in Ex-Fiora. This morning, we are heading to Afgoi, 30 KM west of the capital. I believe I can not keep my children in Mogadishu. It has become a hole of hell," said Malela Abdirahman, a mother of eight.
Zainab Ahmed, a mother five, also told Shabelle on Thursday that she and her children had to come out of their small cottage in Ex-Fiora neighborhood near the president's house after they could not bear the deafening sounds of the blasts and gunfire that followed.
"My children and I came out in the dark night because I could not help the children's cry and fear. When each mortar blasts, the ground under our feet was shaking. We thought it was the end of our life. This morning, we are fleeing to Medina district. My sister is accommodating us," she said, stating that her husband was killed by an explosion during the skirmishes between the Islamist insurgents and the Ethiopian backed Somali troops in late early April.
Nonetheless Mogadishu's latest upsurge of violence killed at least three people and wounded 13 after insurgents hurled seven grenades at Somali government soldiers based in different neighborhoods of the capital, including Bakara market.
The events take place as Somalia president, Abdulahi Yusuf, insisted that country's reconciliation conference would happen in Mogadishu as planned despite the rise of disturbances.
Yusuf said, "Even if a nuclear bomb explodes in Mogadishu, the conference will happen as scheduled."
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