AU convoy escapes bomb attack

MOGADISHU – African Union peacekeepers survived a roadside bomb blast in Somalia on Tuesday, where insurgents have ramped up attacks against government targets and foreign troops in recent months.

Army officer JK Mukase of the Ugandan forces – the only AU contingent deployed in the crisis-hit Horn of Africa country so far – said nobody was hurt when the explosion went off in southern Mogadishu. “Our forces were targeted today near the airport,” Mukase said.”A roadside bomb exploded when their military vehicles were passing somewhere near the airport.””I saw smoke and fire going up in the sky and then a heavy explosion minutes after a convoy of Ugandan forces passed me,” said Kassem Mohamed, a witness.Five Ugandan soldiers have been killed since they were deployed to Somalia in March.The 1 500 troops are a vanguard AU peace force aimed at restoring stability in Somalia.The pan-African body plans to send up to 8 000 soldiers to Somalia, but other contributing countries are yet to fulfil their pledges.Nampa – AFP”Our forces were targeted today near the airport,” Mukase said.”A roadside bomb exploded when their military vehicles were passing somewhere near the airport.””I saw smoke and fire going up in the sky and then a heavy explosion minutes after a convoy of Ugandan forces passed me,” said Kassem Mohamed, a witness.Five Ugandan soldiers have been killed since they were deployed to Somalia in March.The 1 500 troops are a vanguard AU peace force aimed at restoring stability in Somalia.The pan-African body plans to send up to 8 000 soldiers to Somalia, but other contributing countries are yet to fulfil their pledges.Nampa – AFP