Furious Soldiers storm Villa Somalia

Furious Soldiers storm Villa Somalia
20 Jun, 2010 - 7:46:03 AM

Armed soldiers stormed Somalia's presidential palace in a protest against non-payment, a lawmaker said. Saleban Mohammed, who was among more than 20 other parliamentarians barred from getting out of the palace, said the incident happened Saturday evening after the soldiers barricaded the palace, holding all inside, including President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh hostage.

"They were so furious, they barricaded the front gate of the palace and also the offices. None of them spoke, they even refused us to get out," he said. Reports said that the angry soldiers were at some point involved in an exchange of gunfire with African Union troops who guard the palace. Two soldiers were injured in the incident.

It took the intervention of the President, who was advised by the lawmakers, to calm the soldiers, promising them to be paid their salaries. Thousands of Somali troops, who were trained out of the country, have not received their salaries for several months, prompting some desert and join Al-Shabaab, a militant Islamist group with alleged links to al Qaida, which is waging deadly insurgency in the country.

Meanwhile, heavy fighting between African Union troops and Al-Shabaab has killed at least three people and injured 10 others, mainly civilians. Witnesses said Al-Shabaab fighters attacked AU troops' base at Jalle Siyad Academy, whioch houses Burundian contingent.

"A mortar shell that landed near former milk factory killed at least two civilians, and injured five others," an eyewitness called Ahmed told Garowe Online.

He added that one person was also killed and five others injured in Daynile, the stronghold of Al-Shabaab, where also fighters launched their attacks from.

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