The international airport of Somalia came under heavy mortar attack yesterday in an operation conducted by one of the most ruthless terror outfits in the region, the Shabab. The attack took place at the time, when the country’s President, Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed was about toe board the presidential plane. This latest attack by the insurgents is seen as an assassination attempt on the life of the President, who according to reports was unharmed.

Shortly after the airport attack, artillery shells struck the nation’s busiest market, claiming the lives of 18 people. According to official sources, the Somalian government has blamed the African Union peacekeepers contingent for the artillery strike. The peacekeeping force had been set up to counter the militant threat, but have been greatly out numbered and are rumored to be fighting just to survive.

However, the African Union peacekeepers have denied the allegation and in a statement, Maj. Barigye Bahoko (Spokesperson, African Union troops) said,

“Anyone is free to comment on what is going on in Somalia and those parliamentarians never condemned the assassinations and shelling by Al Shabab. I don’t know if they have something to do with Al Shabab.”

The situation in Somalis is rapidly deteriorating as the clashes between the insurgent and the peacekeepers are exacting a heavy civilian toll. There is also widespread discontent and anger against the peacekeeping troops who have repeatedly been alleged of launching artillery shells in the residential areas and firing indiscriminately, in hope of killing insurgents.

According to Abdulkadir Mohamed Osman (Presidential Spokesperson),

“Of course, as the government has sources within the Shabab, so do they. That does not mean that they are part of the government.”

The attack on the presidential plane has split opened the fact, that there is little confidentiality left within the Somalian government and that as high as the Presidential office might also have been compromised with insurgent informers.

Via New York Times.