Children die in Somali capital
Thousands have fled the fighting in Mogadishu this year
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Thursday, 19, Jul 2007 11:51
At least five children were killed in Mogadishu today as a reconciliation conference got underway.
Mortar fire caused the deaths as shells, apparently targeting the conference building where over 1,000 delegates are gathering, rained down on a nearby area.
Two others died when a market was attacked, according to reports.
The Somali peace conference finally got underway despite today's attacks, after previous violence in the unstable city forced at least two postponements.
Clan leaders, religious figures and others are gathering to discuss the way forward after the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) was ousted from control over much of the country during the new year period.
"We have lost trust. We need to return Somalia's reputation back to the world," prime minister Ali Mohamed Gedi was quoted as saying by the Reuters news agency.
Somalia has lacked proper central government since 1992 and the present administration remains blighted by insurgent remnants of the Islamists defeated at the beginning of the year.
March and April saw two major military confrontations in Mogadishu and the interim period has seen shootings, mortar fire and bombings – despite the presence of African Union peacekeepers and Ethiopian troops in the country.