Region | Somalia

Key Somali warlords agree to disarm

In talks with Somalia's president at his residence, key Somali warlords agree to disarm their fighters and join the government, while clan gunmen fire a rocket-propelled grenade and exchanged fire with government troops just outside.

  • Agencies
  • Published: 00:00 January 12, 2007
  • Gulf News

  • Dead and wounded Somali men lie on the ground after clan gunmen fired a rocket-propelled grenade and exchanged gunfire with government troops outside the presidential residence in Mogadishu.
  • Image Credit: AP

Nairobi: Key Somali warlords have agreed to disarm their fighters and join the transitional government, an official said on Friday.

The announcement followed a meeting on Friday between Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf and clan leaders that proceeded even as - just outside the presidential residence - clan gunmen fired a rocket-propelled grenade and exchanged gunfire with government troops.

Also on Friday, British-based agency Oxfam revealed that air attacks in south Somalia have mistakenly targeted and killed 70 nomadic herdsmen.

“Bombs have hit vital water sources as well as large groups of nomads and their animals who had gathered round large fires at night to ward off mosquitoes,'' the agency added, citing local organisations for the information.

The United States sent a warplane into Somalia on Monday in a bid to wipe out what US officials say are top Al Qaida suspects hiding with Islamists.

Ethiopia, which helped the interim government of Somalia oust rival Islamists from Mogadishu, has also been carrying out air raids against the retreating fighters.

The open warfare, which started in late December, have caused some 70,000 Somalis to flee their homes, Oxfam said.

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