Garowe Online (Garowe)
28 October 2009
Mogadishu — An airplane that transported Somali President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed back to the capital Mogadishu was targeted by insurgent mortars on Wednesday, as at least 10 people were killed in attacks, Radio Garowe reports.
The President's private plane landed at Mogadishu's Aden Adde International Airport with mortars hitting inside airport grounds, according to a spokesman.
"The anti-government forces targeted the airport with mortars as the President's plane landed...fortunately, nothing happened," said Abdikadir Barnamij, the presidential spokesman.
It is the second attack on Somali President Sheikh Sharif within a week. On Oct. 22, upwards of 25 people were killed as the President's delegation traveled from Villa Somalia presidential compound to the international airport.
The Somali president's delegation visited Uganda, Djibouti, Yemen and Kuwait, but did not address journalists upon returning back to Mogadishu.
Meanwhile, at least 10 people died in violence in different parts of Mogadishu after insurgents exploded an army vehicle belonging to African Union peacekeepers (AMISOM).
AMISOM peacekeepers shelled parts of Bakara Market, Hodan, Wardhigley, Waberi, Medina and Howlwadaag districts in response insurgent attacks.
The fighting lasted for more than five hours, with medical sources saying 23 wounded persons were rushed to hospitals for treatment.
Mogadishu has been gripped by insurgent attacks since early 2007, with human rights groups saying 18,000 people have been killed in the conflict since.
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