At least six mortar shells on Thursday slammed near the area where the Somali national reconciliation conference reopened in Mogadishu, the Somali capital, as heavy fighting between security forces and insurgents occurred in and around the main Bakara Market hours before the talks resumed.
No casualties were reported from the latest attacks but residents said the sound of the blasts could be heard in the surrounding neighborhoods of Shibis and Abdel Aziz districts of Mogadishu.
Somali government officials have not issued any statement relating to the latest attacks.
The Somali Prime Minister, Ali Mohamed Gedi, said this conference underscores the transitional government’s commitment to peace, security and reconciliation.
“Ours is a government of reconciliation and we will work towards realizing that goal,” Gedi told delegates at the conference.
He said the talks will pave the way for free and fair elections at the end of this government’s mandate in 2009.
An agenda letter circulated at the conference said the conference will discuss the reconciliation of Somali clans, religious extremism and national unity.
Most opposition group inside and outside Somalia boycotted the talks, saying the country is under Ethiopian [Woyanne] occupation and the conference is manipulated the transitional government.
The conference venue was under tight security after it was attacked by mortars at Sunday’s opening ceremony as the Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf was addressing the conference, which was immediately adjourned.
At least six mortar rounds also landed near the venue of the conference Tuesday.
Islamist insurgency threatened to kill anybody attending the government-organized peace talks which was boycotted by major opposition groups who argue the conference is aimed at giving legitimacy to Ethiopian occupation of Somalia.
Source: Xinhua