Garowe Online (Garowe)
4 October 2008
At least five people were killed and seven others wounded Saturday in the Somali capital Mogadishu after insurgents attacked the city's main airport, Radio Garowe reported.
Suspected al Shabaab insurgents launched several mortars at the airport, but the spokesman for African Union peacekeepers in Somalia, Major Bahoku Barigye, told reporters no one was wounded at the airport and there was no damage.
But residents in Mogadishu's Dharkinley district said five people were killed during the government's heavy-handed response to the mortar attack.
"We did not know where the shells were coming from, but later we found out mortars were launched from our neighborhood," said a Dharkinley resident.
Major Barigye denied reports that AU peacekeepers shelled Mogadishu neighborhoods in response, adding: "The civilian airplane landed safely."
When pressed for the airline company's name, the spokesman said he is "not aware" whether or not the company wants its name known publicly.
Another airplane transporting a Libyan delegation flew from Mogadishu's airport was not targeted with mortars, airport officials said.
Last month, al Shabaab rebels issued a threat to shoot down airplanes using Aden Adde International Airport in Mogadishu.
The threat has been opposed by many groups, including Mogadishu business leaders and the Islamic Courts.
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