Bomb kills Ugandan peacekeeper in Somalia: "A roadside bomb killed a Ugandan peacekeeper in the Somali capital Friday, witnesses and an official said, breaking a brief period of relative quiet following a peace agreement between some of the fighting factions.
The explosion occurred near the Ugandan base at Mogadishu's international airport, said Ugandan commander Col. Godfrey Golooba.
Keyse Ali, a witness, said the bomb was hidden in a pile of garbage and exploded as the soldiers were making routine checks on the road. The blast knocked Ali back several yards.
Muhyadin Nor, another witness, said the area was covered in blood.
A spokesman for the African Union said the peacekeepers would continue their efforts.
'Unfortunately, this is not the first attack against our troops in Mogadishu,' said El-Ghassim Wane at the AU's headquarters in Ethiopia. 'But we are as determined as ever to carry out the mandate of the mission. ... This is an attack by elements bent on undermining peace efforts in Somalia.'
African Union peacekeepers from Uganda and Burundi arrived in Somalia last year. The African Union force is separate from Ethiopian troops in the country, who are allies of the government and are not serving as peacekeepers.
The AU troops are mostly confined to bases near Mogadishu's airport, port and government buildings. The Ethiopians, who support the transitional governm"
The explosion occurred near the Ugandan base at Mogadishu's international airport, said Ugandan commander Col. Godfrey Golooba.
Keyse Ali, a witness, said the bomb was hidden in a pile of garbage and exploded as the soldiers were making routine checks on the road. The blast knocked Ali back several yards.
Muhyadin Nor, another witness, said the area was covered in blood.
A spokesman for the African Union said the peacekeepers would continue their efforts.
'Unfortunately, this is not the first attack against our troops in Mogadishu,' said El-Ghassim Wane at the AU's headquarters in Ethiopia. 'But we are as determined as ever to carry out the mandate of the mission. ... This is an attack by elements bent on undermining peace efforts in Somalia.'
African Union peacekeepers from Uganda and Burundi arrived in Somalia last year. The African Union force is separate from Ethiopian troops in the country, who are allies of the government and are not serving as peacekeepers.
The AU troops are mostly confined to bases near Mogadishu's airport, port and government buildings. The Ethiopians, who support the transitional governm"
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