Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Militants Attack Presidential Palace in Somalia
Source: New York Times
Militants Attack Presidential Palace in Somalia
By MOHAMMED IBRAHIM and NICHOLAS KULISH FEB. 21, 2014
MOGADISHU, Somalia — Multiple explosions and a firefight erupted near the presidential palace here in the Somali capital on Friday, in a deadly militant attack on the heart of the government.
“Terrorists tried to attack the presidential palace and the security forces foiled the attack,” Abdikarim Hussein Guled, the minister of the interior and national security, told state media. He called on the public to remain calm and promised to provide more information later.
The United Nations’ top envoy to the country said in a message on Twitter that the Somalian president, Hassan Sheik Mohamud, had survived the attack on the palace, known as Villa Somalia. “President just called me to say he’s unharmed,” said Nicholas Kay, the United Nations’ special representative for Somalia. “Attack on Villa #Somalia had failed. Sadly some lives lost. I condemn strongly this terrorism.”
Witnesses said a loud explosion was heard, followed by an exchange of gunfire and then a series of several more explosions around Villa Somalia. Ambulances were on the scene collecting the wounded.
[font size=1]-snip-[/font]
By MOHAMMED IBRAHIM and NICHOLAS KULISH FEB. 21, 2014
MOGADISHU, Somalia — Multiple explosions and a firefight erupted near the presidential palace here in the Somali capital on Friday, in a deadly militant attack on the heart of the government.
“Terrorists tried to attack the presidential palace and the security forces foiled the attack,” Abdikarim Hussein Guled, the minister of the interior and national security, told state media. He called on the public to remain calm and promised to provide more information later.
The United Nations’ top envoy to the country said in a message on Twitter that the Somalian president, Hassan Sheik Mohamud, had survived the attack on the palace, known as Villa Somalia. “President just called me to say he’s unharmed,” said Nicholas Kay, the United Nations’ special representative for Somalia. “Attack on Villa #Somalia had failed. Sadly some lives lost. I condemn strongly this terrorism.”
Witnesses said a loud explosion was heard, followed by an exchange of gunfire and then a series of several more explosions around Villa Somalia. Ambulances were on the scene collecting the wounded.
[font size=1]-snip-[/font]
Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/22/world/africa/somalia.html
