22 October 2009
Nairobi — Fifteen people died and many more were wounded when Somali rebels attacked the airport as a presidential convoy headed there before jetting off for a summit in Uganda.
As the presidential convoy headed for Mogadishu's Aden Abdulle Airport, Islamists opposing the Transitional Federal Government started targeting the airport and Maka al-Mukarramah Avenue that links Villa Somalia, the state house in Mogadishu, to the runway.
It was earlier in the morning when, all of a sudden, mortar shells thunderously started landing in parts of the capital and were heard from far and wide.
The plan was to disrupt a delegation lead by President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed that was heading towards the airport before jetting off for Uganda to join an African Union Summit in Kampala. However, the head of state and the rest of the delegation left the airport safely.
Pro-government forces and the peacekeepers serving the African Union Mission in Somalia, Amisom, who were responsible for the delegation's safe passage to the airport responded.
As a result of the exchange of fire, at least 15 people died and many times that number were wounded. Most of the casualties were in and around the Bakara market, the largest trading centre in the capital. Ambulance services confirmed that over 50 injured persons were shuttled to the main hospitals for treatment.
According to Ali Mussa of the ambulance services, most of those wounded were taken to Daynile Hospital in the west of Mogadishu. "Others were taken to Madina Hospital in South Mogadishu," said Mr Mussa.
Other sources indicate that both the death toll and the wounded are higher than reported.
Islamist groups usually attack TFG officials heading towards the airport or arriving in the city. However, unarmed civilians usually absorb the impact whenever the opposing sides exchange fire.
Al-Shabaab and Hizbu Islam (the Party of God) are striving to overthrow the government and to chase Amisom peacekeepers out of Somalia.
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