Civilians Killed as AU Troops Shell Mogadishu Market
Scores Wounded in Mortar Strikes Against Bakara Market
Somali insurgents launched an attack this morning against the self-proclaimed Somali government’s complex, killing three soldiers and wounding a member of parliament. The strike came while parliament was in session.
The African Union troops, which have been propping up the government, responded to the attack by firing a number of mortar shells against the Baraka Market, one of the busiest marketplaces in Mogadishu.
According to ambulance services at least 12 people were killed in the shelling and another 40 were wounded, seemingly all civilians. Children were among the casualties of the strike.
African Union troops have regularly responded to attacks by al-Shabaab with attacks on civilian neighborhoods, arguing that even densely populated neighborhoods are legitimate targets since they are under militant control.
Internal AU reports have expressed concerns over the large numbers of civilians killed in indiscriminate attacks by AU forces. Despite the massive evidence to the contrary, AU military officials insist the “extremists” are responsible for all civilian deaths in the nation.
Last 5 posts by Jason Ditz
- No Deal: US Restarted Pakistan Drone Strikes Despite Objections - February 22nd, 2012
- Syrian National Council Demands Foreign Invasion - February 22nd, 2012
- State Dept.: Pakistani Taliban 'Not Welcome' at Truce Talks - February 22nd, 2012
- Israeli FM: Our Decision to Attack Iran None of US, Russia's Business - February 22nd, 2012
- Hunger Strike Ends, but Adnan's Detention Without Charges Doesn't - February 22nd, 2012
Montaigne
September 17th, 2010 at 2:12 am
What a tragic farce! Incomprehensible that the West is supposed to engage at all in such a mess. Absolutely meaningless and irresponsible, in my opinion. But of course accountability does not exist with the self-exclaimed leading nation at all, and alas it spreads like a vicious fire. What about exchanging the Homeland Security with Homeland Accountability, and if or when it ever succeeded, you might take an interest abroad. It is simply INSANE to focus militantly in the diverse Chaostans, while the very own establishment back home is not held accountable in any meaningful or lawful manner and the OBVIOUS and NECESSARY basic problems at home are not faced at all.