Mogadishu airport hit by suicide bombers 200 metres from terminal building

Authorities said at least nine people were killed when suicide bombers in Somalia attacked Mogadishu's airport, according to a combined dispatches from the Associated Press and the Voice of America.

Al-Shabab insurgents, who control most of the capital and large parts of the country claimed responsibility, saying they were stepping up their campaign to overthrow the government and impose Sharia law. They said the attack targeted an international delegation at the airport.

Two attacking vehicles approached the airport's main gate where African Union soldiers were posted. One car exploded, while men wearing Somali military uniforms jumped from the second car and commenced firing.

On foot, the uniformed they broke through the gate and came within 200 metres of the terminal building before being stopped, at which point they detonated their bomb vests.

Insurgents control a large area of southern and central Somalia, with the government holding small sections of the capital with the help of African Union forces.

Officials said Somali President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed was meeting the delegation led by the United Nations special representative for Somalia, Augustine Mahiga at the time of the attack. The officials flew on to Kenya.

A spokesman for the African Union said two members of its forces were among the dead, adding that there were at least four attackers, all of whom were killed.

Somalia's government warned earlier this week that al-Shabab was likely to stage an attack to mark the end of Ramadan.

The African Union expressed confidence that government and AU troops were gaining the upper hand over al-Shabab. Wikipedia says, "as proposed, the [AU force] to comprise an initial three battalions, growing to a total of 9 battalions of 850 troops each, which would serve for an initial stabilisation period of six months."
(Source:www.schednet.com)