Al Jazeera English - Africa - 'AU firing' kills dozens of Somalis: "Somali officials say at least 18 people died after African Union troops opened fire in response to a roadside bomb targeting their convoy in southern Mogadishu.
However, the peacekeeping force's spokesman denied the charge.
The officials and a witness said the soldiers opened fire on buses after an AU vehicle hit a landmine on Monday.
Yusuf Dhumal, a police commander, said the troops killed the civilians when they opened fired in response to the blast.
'I counted 18 dead civilians who were killed by them after spraying fire on the buses,' he told the AFP news agency.
Abdifatah Shaweye, deputy mayor of Mogadishu, said more than 20 civilians were killed in the shooting.
'The African Union forces committed mass killings today after an explosion hit their convoy. The number of innocent civilians they killed after the explosion exceeded 20,' he said."
However, the peacekeeping force's spokesman denied the charge.
The officials and a witness said the soldiers opened fire on buses after an AU vehicle hit a landmine on Monday.
Yusuf Dhumal, a police commander, said the troops killed the civilians when they opened fired in response to the blast.
'I counted 18 dead civilians who were killed by them after spraying fire on the buses,' he told the AFP news agency.
Abdifatah Shaweye, deputy mayor of Mogadishu, said more than 20 civilians were killed in the shooting.
'The African Union forces committed mass killings today after an explosion hit their convoy. The number of innocent civilians they killed after the explosion exceeded 20,' he said."
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