Shabelle Media Network (Mogadishu)
Ahmednor Mohamed Farah
6 January 2009
Somalia — An AU peace keeper was killed and another one was injured in a landmine blast that hit an AMISOM convoy in Mogadishu, a spokesman said on Tuesday.
AMISOM spokesman, Maj. Barigye Ba-Hoku said a Ugandan soldier was killed and another one was injured while they were on route duties of mine sweeping along the road that connects K4, a base of AMISOM peace keepers, and Aden Adde international airport in Mogadishu.
A Statement issued from their office in Mogadishu condemned the attacks against peacekeepers and called for the Somali people to join condemning them.
The statement said AMISOM will continue peacekeeping operations in Somalia even, if the Ethiopian troops withdraw from Somalia.
"Forces from the TFG, ARS and AMISOM would jointly take over the areas previously controlled by the Ethiopian troops and it will continue to execute its obligations and duties to the people of Somalia," the statement said.
The statement denied allegations from the leader of Al-shabab Sheik Muktar Abu Subeyr, who said in a speech aired by local FM radio stations that AMISOM medical personnel were spreading diseases to the Somalis through health facilities.
AMISOM peacekeepers in Mogadishu provide health care to some Somalis that go to their hospitals in Mogadishu.
"Our medical facilities and the services we offer are open, free and accessible to all, including the al-shabab. No one has forced the Somalis to seek for our services, except the conditions imposed upon them by the senseless war," the statement added.
AU peace keepers from Uganda and Burundi form a 3,600-strong AU force known as AMISOM that is propping up Somalia's government.
Analysts say the AU mission is too small to effectively counter insurgent attacks.
Be the first to Write a Comment!
Copyright © 2009 Shabelle Media Network. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
