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UN Staff Under Attack in Somalia's Capital
More than ten UN personnel Tuesday came under attack in a compound in north Mogadishu by militiamen led by a warlord in the capital, but as the fighting continues there have been no casualties reported of these UN staff.
The aid workers from the UN Development Program, World Health Organization and the UN Children's Fund, were holding a meeting with local officials in the compound when militiamen loyal to warlord Muse Sudi Yalahow attacked the venue, going into fighting with pro-government forces there.
According to eyewitnesses, eight people have died in the fighting, but the fate of the U.N. workers is not yet known.
Abdulkadir Mohamed Mohamud, a close aid of Muse Sudi Yalahow, said "all I want to show the international community is that Mogadishu is not a safe place."
Another aid of Yalahow said the interim government can not bring foreigners to the areas under their control.
Interior minister of the interim government Dahir Mohamed Sheikh Nur has dispatched government forces on what he called a rescue mission.
"I have ordered a full intervention into the matter by our forces," he said, "I have made up my mind after I come to know that UN people have been attacked."
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