News Update Somali parliament under attack by al Shabaab MOGADISHU – Al Shabaab rebels launched a major attack on Somalias national parliament today, setting off a car bomb and penetrating the building with suicide commandos, police and witnesses said. A huge car bomb went off outside the gates of the parliament in central Mogadishu shortly before midday, and a string of smaller blasts followed by intense gunfire were also heard coming from inside the complex. Police said at least four attackers were killed, and AFP reporters at the scene also counted four dead security guards, adding that a number people had also been wounded. Exchanges of gunfire could still be heard coming from inside the building more than an hour after the attack started. Witnesses said al Shabaab militants, the al Qaeda-linked group fighting to overthrow Somalias internationally backed government, stormed into the complex while MPs were meeting inside. A spokesman for the militants confirmed they were behind the attack. The so-called Somali parliament is a military zone. Our fighters are there to carry out a holy operation, al Shabaabs military spokesman, Abdulaziz Abu Musab, told AFP by telephone. – Nampa-AFP
Posted on: Sat, 24 May 2014 10:44:24 +0000
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