Somalia supreme court attack kills at least 20

Militants fire guns and set off explosions during suspected Al-Shabaab assault on main court buildings in Mogadishu

Somalia supreme court attack – women walk past the site of the deadly blast in Mogadishu. Photograph: Omar Faruk/Reuters

At least 20 people were killed in Mogadishu after al-Shabaab extremists stormed the Somali capital's main court buildings, firing guns and setting off explosions during clashes with security forces.

The assault was the most serious in the capital since the Islamist group was forced out in 2011.

The attack on the supreme court triggered a gunfight with police and armed forces. Two explosions were heard and gunmen, many wearing explosives-laden vests, climbed on to the roof and fired shots.

A police officer, Hassan Abdulahi, said he saw five bodies at the entrance to the court. All nine extremist were killed, he said, adding that the militants had taken an unknown number of hostages, while other government workers and civilians on the premises hid.

Soldiers carry a wounded civilian from the court. Photograph: Farah Abdi Warsameh/AP

Hours after the siege, a suicide car bomber rammed a vehicle carrying Turkish citizens.

On Friday, the Foreign Office released a travel warning for Somalia that warned of a high threat of terrorism. "We continue to believe terrorists are in the final stages of planning attacks in Mogadishu," it said.

On a Twitter feed believed to belong to the militants, al-Shabaab appeared to take responsibilty for the attack. A post said five militants from the "Martyrdom Brigade" took part in the "daring" raid.

The Somali prime minister, Abdi Farah Shirdon, said the "pointless and pathetic act" would have no effect on the country's commitment to progress.

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said: "I want the terrorist to know that our country, Somalia, is moving, and will keep moving forward, and will not be prevented to achieve the ultimate noble goal, a peaceful and stable Somalia, by a few desperate terrorists."

 

A car is engulfed by flames near the scene of the attack. Photograph: Feisal Omar/Reuters

The court complex is a confusing maze of buildings and rooms, allowing for plenty of places to hide but also for many places for gunmen to take hostages. The armed men forced their way inside the complex and immediately set off an explosion, said Yusuf Abdi, who was near the court when the attack happened.

About two hours after the assault began, survivors of the attack began coming out of the buildings. Some were crying and others held their head in their hands.

"I never expected to make it out alive today," said Halima Geddi, who had taken cover behind a wall. "There is no peace. No one protects us. I came to see my boy who was supposed to be tried here."

Most militant attacks in Mogadishu are blamed on fighters from Al-Shabaab, an al-Qaida-linked rebel group that ruled the city from 2006 until August 2011, when African Union and government forces pushed them out of the city.

Since then extremists have launched suicide bombings on the capital every few weeks. Despite those intermittent attacks, Mogadishu is generally considered more peaceful than most of the previous seven years.

 

Somaliland iyo Qaadhaan bixiyayaasha oo berri ku kulmaya Addis ababa

Wasiirka Wasaaradda Qorshaynta Qaranka Sacad Cali Shire

Wasiirka Wasaaradda Qorshaynta Qaranka Sacad Cali Shire iyo Wasiiru dawlaha Wasaaradda Maaliyadda Cismaan C/laahi Saxardiid ayaa manta u dhoofaya Dalka Itoobiya caasimadiisa Addis ababa halkaas oo ay kaga qayb geli doonaan shir ay la yeelanayaan qaar ka mid ah dalalka Qaadhaan bixiyayaasha ah.

Shirkan ayay labada dhinac kaga wada hadli doonaan Sanduuqa Horumarka ee ay Dalalkaasi Somaliland u sameeyeen ee ay ugu magac dareen Somaliland Trust Fund, kaasoo ay sanadkan soo marin doonaan wixii mucaawino ah ee ay Somaliland siinayaan.

Sanduuqa Somaliland Trust Fund ayaa noqonaya kii ugu horeeyay ee ay Qadhaan bixiyayaashu ku soo ridaan mucaanidii ay horeSomaliland u siin jireen oo ahayd mid kooban, hase yeeshee qorshaha loo dajiyay waxa uu noqon doonaa mid Horumarineed oo wax ka tara baahiyaha Bulsho.

Sida ku cad siyaasadda Miisaaniyadda Qaranka ee sanadkan dhaqaalaha Sanduuqan lagu soo rido waxa uu noqon doonaa mid toos u gala Dakhliga Dawladda isla markaana waxalagu darayaa Miisaaniyadda qaranka.
“waa in Wasaaradda Qorshayntu soo gudbiso lacagta Sanduuqa horumarinta Somaliland (Somaliland Trust Fund), si loo raaciyo Miisaaniyadda 2013.

Sidoo kale, isla Siyaasadda Miisaaniyadda waxa lagu sheegay in Deeqaha Tooska ah iyo kuwa dadban-ba waxaay ka muuqan doonaan Miisaaniyadda “waa in deeqaha tooska ah ee Caalamiga ah ee Dawladda la siiyo ay ka muuqdaan Miisaaniyadda Dawladda Dhexe. Sidoo kale, deeqaha Caalamiga ah ee dadban waa in lifaaq loo raaciyaa Miisaaniyaddaqaranka, si loo ogaado dhamaan Dakhliga dalka soo gala nooc kasta oo uu yahay.

Dhinaca kale Wasiiradan oo uu wehelin doono Wasiirka Wasaaradda Macdanta, Tamarta iyo Biyaha ayaa shirka kadib u duuli doona Dalka Maraykanka halkaas oo ay kaga biiri doonaan weftiga Madaxweynaha Somaliland Axmed Maxamed Maxamud Siilaanyo.

Position Paper Somaliland and Somalia Ankara Communiqu- TAAGEERADA GO’AAMADA BAYAANKA ANKARA

HORNWATCH Index:   S/land /0212/13                                          

Ku: Warbaahinta Gudo iyo dibadba

Taar: 15 April 2013

UJEEDO:          TAAGEERADA GO’AAMADA BAYAANKA ANKARA (Ankara Communiqué)

Difaacayaasha Xuquuqda Aadamiga Somaliland waxay soo dhawaynayaan go’aamada shalay ka soo baxay wada-hadaladii u dhexeeyay madaxda labada dal ee Somaliland iyo Somalia, wadahadaladan oo uu marti galiyay Madaxwaynaha dalka Turkiga, oo si rasmi ah uga socday magaalooyinka Stanbul iyo Ankara 11 – 13 April 2013.

Difaacayaasha Xuquuqda Aadamiga Somaliland, waxay hambalyaynayaan soona dhawaynayaan hogaaminta khibradeed siyaasadeed iyo go’aan qaadashada Madaxwaynaha Somaliland, xukuumadiisa iyo masuuliyiinta uu u xushay ka qaybgalka wadahadalada Turkiga ee metalaya qaranka Somaliland. Madaxwaynaha Somaliland iyo masuuliyiinta uu u xushay shirka Turkigu waxay muujiyeen bisayl iyo siyaasadeed oo ka turjumaysa rabitaanka shacbiga Somaliland iyo geedi socodka halganka loogu jiro ka midho dhalinta qaran madaxbanaan oo caalamku aqoonsan yahay, go’aanada ka soo baxay wadahadalada Turkiga ee ay wada yeesheen Somaliland iyo Somalia waa qaar u horseedi kara shacabka labada dal iyo guud ahaan manadaqada Geeska Afrika xasilooni iyo deganaansho, sidoo kale bilowga is afgaradka labada dal ee Somalia iyo Somaliland in ay ka wada shaqeeyaan danaha labadooda dal iyo horumarintiisa.

Difaacayaasha Xuquuqda Aadamiga Geeska Afrika waxay soo dhawaynayaan in ay labada dal ee Somaliland iyo Somalia aqoonsadaan muhimada ay leedahay iskaashiga xoogan oo ay ka yeeshaan dhinaca Nabadgalyada iyo Sirdoonka, sababta oo ah amaan darada ka dhacda labada dal midkood waa mid khusaysa kan kalana, sidaasi darteed wadaaga labada dale ee ku aadan dhinaca fursadaha tababarada iyo qalabaynta hay’adaha ugu xil saaran labada dal dhinaca amaanku waa mid leh muhimad gaar wakhtigan xaasaasiga ah. 

Guud ahaan Go’aanada ku xardhan baaqa Ankara ee 7 qodob ahi waa fariin culus oo Somaliland u dirtay beesha caalamka iyo shirka dhawaan ku qabsoomaya dalka boqortooyada Ingiriiska, kaasi oo si cad ugu sheegaya in dalka Somaliland uu gaar ka yahay dalka Somalia.

Gudida Ilaalada Xuquuqda Aadamiga Somaliland, waxay la dhacsan yihiin heshiisyada dhawaan xukuumada Madaxwayne Siilaanyo la gashay hay’adaha ugu saamaynta badan caalamka marka laga hadlayo dhinaca hogaamiyayaasha caalamka iyo golayaasha lagu sargooyo siyaasada dunida. Talaabadan  waxa aanu u aragnaa mid wax wayn ka tari doonta arimo farobadan sida Maalgashiga Caalamiga ah, helitaanka gargaar aadaminimo, iyo mashaariic horumarineed marka laga yimaado fursadaha siyaasadeed ee ay hay’adaha noocan ahi keeni karaan. Sidaasi darteed, Somaliland shillinka ku baxaa waa mid faa’iido badan soo galinayana dalka

Difaacayaasha Xuquuqda Aadamiga Somaliland, waxay xogogaal u yihiin in aanay ahayn qaar lagu khasaaray Safarada xidhiidhka ah ee aan nasashada lahayn ee Madaxwaynaha Somaliland uu hadh iyo habeen ugu jiro danta iyo maslaxada Qaranka Somaliland, isagoo isaga dab qaadaya Hargeysa, Addis Ababa, Iimaaraadka iyo Turkiga oo qaarkood uu ku labo jeer noqonayo,  waxay tani muujinaysaa sida ay uga go’an tahay xaqiijinta iyo hirgalinta masiirka shacabka soo doortay, waxay muujinaysaa sida ay uga go’an tahay gaadhsiinta dalka iyo shacabkiisa horumar dhaqaale caafimaad waxbarasho, waxa kale oo ay muujinaysaa sida ay uga go’an tahay in Dalka Somaliland helo aqoonsi caalami ah.

Difaacayaasha Xuquuqda Aadamiga Somaliland waxay ka maragfurayaan in mudo ahba dadka iyo xooluhuba waxay ka cabayeen Ceelashii dalka bari iyo galbeedba uu ka qoday Madaxwayne Siilaanyo mudadii koobnayd ee uu talada dalka hayay.

Sidoo kale waxaanu soo dhawaynaynaa una mahadnaqaynaa Madaxwaynaha dalka Turkiga Abdallah Gul iyo xukuumadiisa oo suurtogaliyay qabsoomida wadahadalada dalkiisa ku dhex maray hogaamiyayaasha labada dal ee Somalialnd iyo Somalia.

Ugu dambayntii waxanu soo dhawaynayanaa niyadsami iyo masuuliyad ay muujiyeen Madaxwaynaha xukuumada Federaalka ah ee Soomaaliya Mud. Xasan Sheekh iyo masuuliyiintii xukuumadiisa uga qaybgalay Wadohadalada labada dal ee Somalia iyo Somaliland ku wada yeesheen dalka Turkiga. 

Suleiman Ismail Bolaleh

Afhayeenka Difaacayaasha Xuquuqda Aadamiga Somaliland

Commentary: Tougher Somaliland-Somalia talks ahead

by Liban Ahmad

Twenty two years ago president Ahmed Mohamed Mohamud (Silanyo) of Somaliland wrote a paper entitled “A Proposal To The Somali National Movement: On A Framework For A Transitional Government In Somalia. ” In the paper President Silanyo, then, former SNM Chairman, cautioned against forming a government in Mogadishu following the ouster of the military dictatorship in 1991 without consulting ‘liberation movements’, and reprisals against civilians. United Somali Congress leaders heeded neither suggestion. They formed an interim administration led by Ali Mahdi Mohamed and failed to rein in their militias, who committed widespread human rights violations. Now president Silaanyo is the first president of Somaliland to be able to hold talks with a Mogadishu-based government.

Representatives from Somaliland administration and the former Mogadishu-based Transitional Federal Government, the predecessor of Somali Federal Government, met last year under an arrangement by the British government. Federalism, on which the Somali government institutions are based, is the second factor that made the talks possible. Since Somalia’s successive federal governments have banked on the support of African forces , mostly from Somalia’s neighbouring countries in favour of a federal system for Somalia, the former Transitional Federal Government leaders refrained from policies that could destabilise Somaliland, as Wikileaks entry on the late Somali president Abdillahi Yusuf Ahmed dated 24/11/2004 has shown.

The outcome of Ankara meeting held yesterday gives strong hints about Somaliland intentions to be pragmatic about the status of the Somali Federal Government and its privileges in the international fora. Somaliland has given the Somali Federal Government the green light to ensure Somaliland gets its share of the development aid. This is a remarkable success for Somaliland since it will continue to maintain its partnership with development or multilateral agencies such as USAID, SIDA, DFID and the World Bank.

However , cooperation could be derailed by the Somali Federal Government’s drive to take advantage of its status that reinstated Somalia’s membership in such agencies as International Monetary Fund. Will the Somali Federal Government consult Somaliland administration on any talks with IMF regarding new loans for post-war reconstruction? Somali Federal Government proposals to IMF for loans will not leave out Somaliland because of sovereignty grounds but failure to discuss those issues with major stakeholders such as Somaliland could undermine all that has been achieved through talks. In other words, will Somalilandland consider legitimate agreements Somali Federal Governments signs with multilateral organisations without the input of Somaliland administration? Follow-up talks between the Somali Federal Government and Somaliland Administration have paved the way for tougher talks in the future. Decisions made in Mogadishu will affect Hargeisa politically in the near future. That is why political issues were shelved during the talks between Somali Federal Government and Somaliland administration in Ankara.

Liban Ahmad

Libahm@gmail.com

WAR DEGDEG AH: Weerar labaad oo Maanta Muqdisho Ka Dhacay iyo Madax Turkish ah oo ku Dhintay

Iyada oo weli lagu jiro jaahwareerkii ka dhashey weerarkii lagu qaadey Xarunta Maxkamamadda Sare ee Gobolka Banaadir ayaa weerar kale ka dhacay waddada Garoonka Diyaaradaha aada, waxaa qarax lala beegsadey Kolonyo gawaari ah oo ay la socdeen shaqaale u dhashey dalka Turkiga, waxaana ku dhintey labo kamid ah shaqaalihii Turkiga iyo 5 boolis ah.

Qaraxan faah-faahijn dheeraad ah kama soo bixin weli.

Warbixin Faahfaahsan Weerarkii Muqdisho ka dhacay iyo Fashilka Dowladda Soomaaliya + Sawiro

Subaxnimadii maanta goor ay saacaddu tahay 11:00 ayaa koox hubeysan oo ka tirsan al-Shabaab u suurta gashey in ay weerar qorsheysan ka fuliyaan Xarunta Gobolka Banaadir gaar ahaan qaybta Maxkamadda Gobolka oo ku taala degmada Xamar Weyne.

Ugu yaraan 20 qof ayaa dhimatay tiro intaas kabadana dhaawacyo ayaa soo gaaray, weeraro musalsal ahaa oo maanta Muqdisho ka dhacay, 16 kamid ah dadkaas ayaa la’aaminsanyahay ineey ku geeriyoodeen gudaha maxkamada gobolka banaadir, oo ay gudaha u galeen rag gaaraya 9 kuwaas oo ku labisnaa dharka ciidanka Dowladda, kuwaasoo rasaas iyo qaraxyo isugu daray dadkii gudaha ugu jiray maxkamada.

Xarunta Gobolka Banadir ayaa ka mid ah Goobaha ugu mashquulka badan Muqdisho, waxaana weerarku ku soo beegmayaa Xili laamaha garsoorka Gobolka Banaadir ay shir ku lahaayeen Xarunta la weeraray, waxaana ay saxaafadda kula hadleen isla gudaha Xarunta, kadib markii Suxufiyiintu ka dareereen halkaas ayaana weerarku qabsadey.

Taliyaha Ciidanka Maxkamadda Sare Col.Cabdullaahi Cali Geedow ayaa sheegay in weerarku bilowdey kadib markii nin ka mid ahaa kuwa weerarka fuliyey uu is qarxiyey isaga oo baaritaankii ku socdo, kadib markii xaaladdu isku yaacdey waxaa dhanka Guriga Gobolka Banaadir hal mar naga soo galay ilaa 9 nin oo ku hubeysan qoryaha loo yaqaan dabajeexyada PKM kuwaas oo xoog nagu jiirey gudahana u galay Dhismaha, sida Geedow yiri.

Kadib waxaa xigey Qarax ka dhacay dhismaha banaankiisa kaas oo ka dhashey gaari ay wateen kooxdii xooga ku gashey goobtaas, waxaana taasi horseeday in xaaladdu faraha ka sii baxdo, iyada oo banaanka hore ee xarunta ay ku sugnaayeen ciidamo ilaalo u ahaa sarakiisha gudaha ku jirey, waxaana ay isku dhar siteen kooxda al-Shabaab ee weerarka qorsheysan fulisey.

Col.Geedow ayaa sheegay in dhisamaha ay ku sugnaayeen inta badan garsoorayaashii Maxkamadda Guddoomiyaha Maxkamadda Sare Caydiid Ilka-Xanaf, Xeer Ilaaliyaha Guud, Guddoomiyaha Maxkamadda Gobolka Banaadir iyo saraakiil kale oo faro badan.

Garsoorayaal la badbaadiyey

Markii kooxda al-Shabaab ay gudaha u galneen dhismaha waxaa xafiisyada iyo guryaha qaybaha kala duwan ku cararay dadkii ku sugnaa gudaha Xarunta, Ciidanka sida gaarka ah loo tababarey ee dowladda ee loo yaqaan Alpha Unit iyo Booliska AMISOM oo saacad kadib soo gaarey goobta ayey u suurta gashey in ay soo badbaadiyaan Caydiid ilka Xanaf iyo garsoorayaal kale oo badan kuwaas oo jaranjaro loo daadiyey soo raacey.

Kooxda weerarka soo qaadey ayaan ku talo gelin in ay dib u laabtaan, waxaana weerarkaani la mid ahaa noocyada Talibaanku ka fulin jireen caasimadda Afqaanistaan ee Kabul marar badana ayey dhismayaal ku qabsadeen sidaan oo kale, Waxaa saraakiisha la dagaalameysey kooxda al-Shabaab ee qabsadey dhisamaha Maxkamadda sheegayaan in ay qarxinayeen naftrooda markii ay ka dhamaato rasaasta ay ku dirirayaan.

Ugu danbeyntii waxaa ciidanka Dowladda iyo Booliska AMISOM u suurta galay in ay dib u qabsadaan dhisamaha kadib markii 8 kamid ah raggii gudaha galay ay isqarxiyeenka halka kan kalena ciidanku toogteen, waxaana hawlgalkaasi qaatey muddo ka badan laba saac.

Qareeno caan ahaa oo ku dhintey Weerarka

Inta la ogyahay 22 qof ayaa ku dhimatey, kuwaas oo ay qaadeen gawaarida gar-gaarka deg-dega ah, waxaana ka mid ahaa laba qareen oo caan ku noqdey Kiiskii Kufsiga iyo weriye Cabdicasiis Koronto kuwaas oo la kala yiraahdo Dr. Maxamed Maxamuud Afrax iyo Dr. Cabdikariim Xassan Gorod.

Sidoo kale waxaa ku dhintey Afhayeenkii Maxkamadda Sare Mohamed Hassan Xabeeb oo ka mid ahaan jirey Shaqaalihii Radio Muqdisho.

Al-shabaab oo sheegtey weerarka

Kooxda al-Shabaab ee la mideysan Shabakada al-Qaacida ayaa sheegtey masuuliyadda weerarkan, waxaana bogga ay ku leeyihiin Twitterka ee ay aalaaba ku sooo gudbiyaan fariimahooda ku sheegeen in ay maanta qaadeen weerar ka dhan ah Xukuumadda Soomaaliya.

Al-shabaab ayaa sheegay in ciidamo boqolaal gaaraya oo dowladda ka tirsan ay ku sugnaayeen Dhismaha hortiisa isla markaana Mujaahidiintooda ay u suurta gashey in la wareegaan dhismahaas kana dagaalamaan muddo 2 saac ah.

Al-Shabaab waxay sheegteen in ay kaga dhimatey weerarkaas 5 ka mid ah Ciidankoda, isla markaana ay dileen 27 kamid ah Dowladda oo ay ku jiraan Saraakiil sar-sare.

Al-Shabaab ayaa sheegaya in weerar cayn kan oo kale ah laga fuliyo Muqdisho iyada oo ay tahay dharaar cad ay calaamad u tahay isla markaana muujineysaa awoodda iyo galaangalka ay ku lee yihiin Muqdisho.

Warbixinta al-Shabaab ka soosaareen weerarkii maanta ayey ku sheegeen in ay tahay fariin ay dirayaan taas oo ah In “Muqdisho aysan ahayn u ahayn Dowladda Janno nabad ah”

Madaxda Dowladda oo ka hadley weerarka

Madaxweynaha Jamhuuriyadda Federaalka ah ee Soomaaliya Xassan Shiikh Maxamuud ayaa isla maanta ku soo laabtey Muqdisho waxaana lagu soo dhaweeyey weerar ka dhacay meel aan waxbadan ka fogeyn hoygiisa, iyada oo xaruntii lagu tilmaamey Garsoorka muddo laba saac ah ay ahayd goob dagaal oo aan fooda la gelin karin, Madaxweynaha oo bayaan ka soo saarey ayaa ku tilmaamey weerarka mid fuleynimo oo oo aan waxba u dhimi karin isla markaana muujinaya jabka kooxda al-Shabaab, ma ahan arrin la yaableh bayaan caynkan oo kale ah in uu soo baxo, waxaana la is weydiinayaa sida aysan waxba uga dhimeyn qof loo digey oo maanta caasimadiisi ahayd goob dagaal.

Raysalwasaare Saacid oo isaguna maanta dib ugu soo laabtey magaalada Muqdisho, ayaa ku koobsadey in uu tacsi u diro dadkii waxyeeladu soo gaartey, waxaana uu ku tilmaamey weerarkan mid aan diinta islaamka ka tarjumeyn.

Xaaladda oo faraha ka baxdey

Xaaladda magaalada Muqdisho ayaa noqotey mid faaha ka baxdey rasaas gees walba laga maqlaayo, dhawaaqa gawaarida gar-gaarka degdega ah iyada oo waddada ugu mashquulka badneyd ee Makka Al-mukaramah ay noqotey waddo ciidanka oo keliya isticmaalaan dhankastana gaari baroon ah u ordaayo. Waxaana dadka qaarkiis dib u xasuusteen dagaaaladii lagu riiqan jirey ee Caasimadda Soomaaliya deriska lahayd laba sano ka hor.

Weerarkii labaad ee isla maanta oo dad Turkish ah ku dhinteen

Iyada oo weli lagu jiro jaahwareerkii ka dhashey weerarkii lagu qaadey Xarunta Maxkamamadda Sare ee Gobolka Banaadir ayaa weerar kale ka dhacay waddada Garoonka Diyaaradaha aada, waxaa qarax lala beegsadey Kolonyo gawaari ah oo ay la socdeen shaqaale u dhashey dalka Turkiga, waxaana ku dhintey labo kamid ah shaqaalihii Turkiga iyo 5 boolis ah, qaraxan faah-faahijn dheeraad ah kama soo bixin weli.

Digniintii Ingriiska

Wasaaradda Arrimaha Dibadda ee Ingriiska ayaa  taariikhdu markey ahayd 5 Abril ka digtey khatar ku soo fool leh magaalada Muqdisho taas oo kooxaha argagixisadu maleegayaan, waxay diigniintu ku socotey dadka u dhashey Britian in ay deg-deg uga soo baxaan Muqdisho maadaama weerarka kooxahaasi ay damacsan yihiin uu joogo heer dhamaad ah.

Dowladda dalkeeda laga digaayo ayaa arintan aad u fududeysey, waxaana ay ku tilmaameen digniihaa caadiga ah ee dalalka qaarkood dadkooda u jeediyaan meelaha khatartu ka jirto.

Markii arrimo caynkan oo kale ah dhacaan waxaa isku casila dadka ka msuulka ahaa  in ay ka hoirtagaan arrimaha caynkan oo kale ah, marka mala gudboontahay taliyaasha sirdoonka dowladda iyo Wasiirka Warfaafintu in ay isku casilaan marka loo eego sida wax u dhaceen.

Si kastaba ha ahaatee waxaa cad in maanta sirdoonkii dowladda iyo laamaha amnigu ay fashilmeen isla markaana xarakada al-Shabaab ay awood ku leedahay magaalada Muqdisho ayna fulin karaan hawlgalo caynkan oo kale ah.

Bombs and gun battles kill at least 19 in Somali capital

By Abdi Sheikh and Feisal Omar

MOGADISHU

(Reuters) - At least 19 people were killed in the Somali capital on Sunday in bomb attacks carried out by militants linked to al Qaeda and subsequent gun battles with the al Shabaab fighters, breaking a fragile return to peace in Mogadishu.

A bomb exploded outside law courts in the city as gunmen stormed the compound. Security forces then arrived and battled the fighters inside. Later, a bomb exploded near an African Union and Turkish Red Crescent convoy on the way to the airport.

Al Shabaab said it carried out the attacks.

"About seven well-armed men in government uniform entered the court today as soon as a car bomb exploded at the gate. We thought they were government soldiers," said Aden Sabdow, who works at the mayor's office adjacent to the court.

"Armed men entered the court and then we heard a blast. Then they started opening fire. We do not know the number of casualties," said Hussein Ali, who works at the courts.

Somali forces arrived and laid siege to the compound and there was a second blast while the two sides exchanged gunfire. Hours later, the shooting stopped, but government forces said they believed some fighters were still hiding inside.

Reuters reporters counted 16 bodies around the compound, some of them in uniform, some not, but it was not clear how many of them were government soldiers, attackers, or civilians.

Witnesses at the scene said in addition to the car bombs, three of the gunmen who stormed the court also blew themselves up using explosives strapped on their bodies.

Security in the coastal capital has improved greatly since al Shabaab fled the city after an AU and Somali government military offensive in August 2011. Now its rubble-strewn streets are choked with traffic and constructions sites point to a new confidence as Somalis from abroad and invest in their homeland.

But the threat persists from al Shabaab, which still controls much of the countryside.

"We carried out a superb intense mission in Mogadishu today. We killed 26 people including soldiers and court staff," said al Shabaab spokesman Sheikh Ali Mohamud Rage.

"We assigned five special mujahideen for the court - four of them entered and killed the people inside. The other mujahid with his car bomb exploded when government soldiers gathered at the gate."

Al Shabaab routinely inflates the number of people it kills.

AL SHABAAB STRIKES BACK

Security forces managed to rescue the Supreme Court chairman and other officials, some of whom climbed out of buildings using ladders.

"The supreme court chairman and other judges have now safely arrived at the mayor's office through another door. Many ladders have also been placed on the walls and some staff and civilians and have managed to escape using the ladders," Sabdow said.

Later, a car bomb exploded at a building housing Somali intelligence along the road to the airport as Turkish and African Union (AU) vehicles were passing, police and witnesses said. Government forces then opened fire and blocked the road.

"The car bomb exploded near the gate of a building housing the Somali security. AU and Turkish cars were also passing there. We are still investigating the target and casualties," Qadar Ali, a police officer told Reuters.

Witnesses said three people were killed in the blast.

"I saw three dead people including a man, a woman and a child. The ruined car bomb is in the middle of the road," Hussein Bile, a witness told Reuters.

A Turkish official who spoke on condition of anonymity said one of its Red Crescent vehicles was passing at the time of the explosion. A Somali driver was killed and three Turkish passengers were wounded, the official said.

Britain warned on April 5 it believed "terrorists are in the final stages of planning attacks in Mogadishu".

In control of much of the capital Mogadishu between 2009 and 2011, al Shabaab has been forced out of most major cities in central and southern Somalia by African Union peacekeepers.

But the hardline Islamist group has hit back with a series of bomb attacks. In early April, a bomb went off outside the headquarters of Somalia's biggest bank, Dahabshiil's, wounding at least two people hours after al Shabaab ordered the company to cease operations in areas under its control.

"Somalia, is moving and will keep moving forward and will not be prevented to achieve the ultimate noble goal, a peaceful and stable Somalia, by a few desperate terrorists," President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said in a statement.

Last month, al Shabaab claimed responsibility for suicide car bomb targeting a senior Somali security official which killed at least 10 people in central Mogadishu. The security official survived the attack, the city's deadliest this year.

(Additional reporting by Jonathon Burch in Ankara; Writing by George Obulutsa; Editing by Jon Hemming)