Mortars kill 6 civilians near Somali peace talks

Mortars kill 6 civilians near Somali peace talks
19 Jul 2007 13:28:06 GMT
Source: Reuters

(Releads with mortar attack)

By Guled Mohamed

MOGADISHU, July 19 (Reuters) - Mortar bombs fired by
suspected Islamist insurgents missed the venue of a major
reconciliation meeting in Somalia but killed six civilians including
at least five children, residents said on Thursday. "At least six
mortars were fired at the conference. They missed their target
and hit Shibiz district. At least five children died. There was also
an elderly person who died," resident Abdi Aziz Hussein told
Reuters.

The death toll could not immediately be verified.

Asha Hussein, an aunt of one of the dead children, said a mortar
shell detonated near where the youngsters were playing.

The conference had earlier resumed amid tight security after
explosions echoed across the capital's biggest market in the
heaviest fighting in 15 days of non-stop violence.

-snip-