From: Biniam Tekle (biniamt@dehai.org)
Date: Wed Oct 29 2008 - 07:59:30 EST
UN confirms blast deaths in Somaliland suicide attack
*www.chinaview.cn* <http://www.chinaview.cn/index.htm> *2008-10-29
20:35:24* <javascript:doPrint();>
NAIROBI, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations has confirmed that
several people had been killed in a suicide bomber attack on the UN compound
in Somalia's breakaway region of Somaliland on Wednesday.
A statement from the UN Humanitarian Resident Coordinator for Somalia
said the attack, which took place at 10:00 a.m. (0700 GMT), left the UNDP
compound in Hargeysa, Somaliland, badly hit.
"At approximately 10 o'clock this morning the UNDP compound in Hargeysa,
Somaliland, was hit by an explosion, caused by a vehicle which forced entry
into the compound. There are known casualties as well as deaths," the UN
said in a statement.
"There are known casualties as well as deaths, but the numbers are
currently being verified. Medical evacuation of the injured is ongoing,"
said the statement which was issued in Nairobi.
"The UN is aware of reports of other explosions in the Hargeysa area as
well as in Puntland. These have not involved UN premises, "said the
statement.
Reports from Somalia said at least 21 people have been killed in a wave
of coordinated car-bombings across northern Somalia. Most of the casualties
were in Hargeisa, capital of the self-declared republic of Somaliland.
The presidential palace, Ethiopian embassy and UN offices were all
targeted.
Somalia has been without a functioning government since 1991, when clan
warlords ousted longtime dictator Mohamed Siad Barre and then turned on each
other.
There is no information about who was responsible for the three attacks,
which took place within seven minutes of each other.
There is a lot of anxiety around the city and cars have been blocked
from approaching the three locations.
The attacks came as leaders from Kenya, Uganda, Djibouti and Ethiopia
are meeting in Nairobi to discuss the Somali issue.
The Somali transitional government was formed in 2004 under a five-year
transitional charter was signed in February 2004 in Nairobi between
Somalia's warring factions after protracted years of negotiations in
Nairobi.
The document called for a new constitution, the formation of political
parties and the drawing of internal boundaries.
With only nine months left before the mandate of the transitional
government expires, it has accomplished little in protecting Somali people
from violence.
Somalia's north, which has been relatively calm, has tried to sever ties
with the chaotic south, which includes the beleaguered capital, Mogadishu.
Puntland has a semiautonomous administration and Somaliland has long
been seeking international recognition as an independent nation, separate
from Somalia.
Editor: Zheng E
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