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International community condemns fighting in Somalia

27 August 2010 01:20 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. The international community on Thursday strongly condemned the indiscriminate killings in Somali capital, Mogadishu carried out by extremists, APA reports quoting news.xinhuanet.com website.

In a joint statement issued in Nairobi, the United States, AU mission in Somalia, UN political office for Somalia, the Inter- Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the Arabia League as well as Norway said the offensive, particularly during the Holy month of Ramadan, demonstrates a complete disregard for human life and Somali culture.

The statement said the brutal offensive is being conducted on several fronts. "It includes both the illegal blockading of food and humanitarian assistance as well the cold-blooded murder of innocent Somali citizens as witnessed in the attack on the Muna hotel which caused so many civilian deaths," the statement said.

The statement came after Tuesday’s suicide attack in a Mogadishu hotel that led to the deaths of over 30 civilians including six lawmakers.

The attack involved Somali insurgents dressed as police officers, who stormed the hotel and opened fire, and later blew themselves up.

"Our condolences go out to those who are suffering across the country and to the families and friends of the victims murdered across Mogadishu."

According to the statement, of particular concern is the presence of foreign fighters, working in collaboration with Al- Shabaab, against ordinary Somalis. They are clearly interested only in causing destruction and misery for the Somali people.

Al-Shabab, along with a number of other anti-government groups, controls much of southern and central, as well as most of Mogadishu.

The transitional government, which has long promised to launch a major offensive against al-Shabaab, controls only a few streets of the capital.

Some 2 million people in Somalia, or about one-third of the population, need food aid, according to UN report which was released on Monday.

The country’s central government is extremely weak and the drought-stricken nation is essentially lawless.

The international community said the insurgents will not, however, succeed as the peace process will continue in Somalia despite the attempts of a violent minority to stop it. "Norway, the US, AMISOM, the EU, IGAD, LAS and UNPOS pledge our continued support to the government and the people of Somalia as they work to bring a quick and durable end to the conflict and provide for a more hopeful future," it said.

Violence in Mogadishu has led to some 3,000 conflict-related casualties so far this year and uprooted around 200,000 people from the city, which has been the scene of ongoing clashes between the government troops and Islamist militant groups, including Al- Shabaab.