Mortar round lands on Somali parliament, injuries

MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – A barrage of mortar shells hit parliament building in a heavily fortified area in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu on Monday, shortly after new MPs approved measures to hold elections for parliament leadership.

Parliament held its second sitting in just a few days to expedite upcoming votes and scheduled that a new speaker will be chosen on April 17. Senators will pick a leadership on April 26.

One of the mortar shells struck the gate of Villa Hargeisa, parliament compound where a number of people wounded, including two of the bodyguards of an opposition MP Abdirahman Abdishakur, who is also a presidential candidate.

Al-Qaeda-aligned militant group Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the assault.

It comes just days after mortar bombs fired by insurgents targeted a heavily fortified venue near Mogadishu Airport where the swearing-in of new MPs & Senators was held on Thursday, but no casualties were reported. read more

Contact us: info@somaliguardian.com