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Somalian Army Chief Escapes Bomb Attack

   VOA News 07 January 2010

   Security  officials  in  Somalia say the country's army chief narrowly
   escaped a bomb attack that killed two of his bodyguards in the capital
   Thursday.
   Police  say  a  roadside bomb exploded in southern Mogadishu just as a
   convoy passed carrying General Mohamed Gelle Kahiye.
   Kahiye  escaped injury, but authorities say two military guards riding
   in  the  convoy  were  killed and six others were wounded.  Kahiye was
   named army chief last month.
   Police blame the attack on Islamist insurgents.
   The  militant  groups  al-Shabab and Hizbul Islam control parts of the
   capital,  and  have  been  fighting  to  overthrow  the Western-backed
   government.
   The  weak  transitional  government  is  trying to recapture the city.
   African Union peacekeepers are helping to control key sites, including
   the airport, seaport and the presidential palace.
   Islamist  insurgents  have  gained  control  of  much  of southern and
   central Somalia after a three-year insurgency.
   The  militants  are  trying to oust the moderate Islamic government to
   set up a strict Islamic state.
   Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP.

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