960418

9 killed in

Moga dishu dps

camp attack

MOGADISHU: Two mortar bombs slammed into a crowded refugee camp in southern Mogadishu on Wednesday, killing nine people including three children and wounding 16, witnesses said.

Ahmed Jama, head of Shabelle refugee camp which borders on faction leader Mohamed Farah Aideed's headquarters, said the two 120 mm mortar bombs exploded in the camp for 200 families in the morning.

The blasts were apparently part of sporadic attacks between militiamen loyal to Aideed and his former ally Osman Ali Hassan Atto since more than 100 people were killed and 400 wounded in battles in south Mogadishu at the start of the month.

International aid agencies have evacuated all foreign staff from southern Mogadishu to the north but say they are ready to fly in medical supplies if battles break out again.

Aideed and his former financier Atto split in March last year shortly before U.N. peacekeepers left at the end of a two-year mission that failed to force the warlords to make peace.-Reuter