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AU Peacekeepers Deny Indiscriminately Shelling Mogadishu Residents

   AMISOM spokesman Barigye Bahoku says militant groups such as al-Shabab
   must  take responsibility for their frequent use of civilians as human
   shields

   James Butty | Washington, D.C. 23 July 2010
   Tanks of the African union peacekeepers in Somalia rolls on the street
   of Mogadishu, Somalia, to assist government forces during clashes with
   Islamist  insurgents in southern Mogadishu's Karan neighborhood, 1 Jul
   2010.

Photo: AP

   Somali peacekeepers

   A  spokesman  for  the  African  Union Peacekeeping mission in Somalia
   known  as  AMISOM  is  denying  published  reports  that African Union
   peacekeepers  are  indiscriminately  shelling  civilians in the Somali
   capital, Mogadishu.

   Earlier  this week, the Associated Press cited āinternal African Union
   reportsā  which  said that if indiscriminate shelling continues the AU
   mission will lose the support of the Somali people.

   AMISOM  spokesman Major Barigye Bahoku said that while he did not know
   about  the  report, he believes militant groups such as al-Shabab must
   take  responsibility  for  their  frequent  use  of civilians as human
   shields.

   āI  donāt  know  where the AP (Associated Press) got this report from,
   and  I  am  quite  uncomfortable  responding to a report that Iāve not
   seen.  But  whatever  case  it  is, I think what we should be thinking
   about  is  that  the forces opposed to the peace process which unleash
   their  regular  attacks from residential areas and all types of places
   using  human  shields is whatās causing the loss of life in Mogadishu.
   So,  blame  must be taken to the doorsteps of those who always provoke
   those situations,ā he said.

   Islamist  insurgent  fighters  during  clashes  with Somali government
   soldiers  in southern Mogadishu's Wardhigley neighborhood, Somalia, 24
   June 2010

AP

   Islamist  insurgent  fighters  during  clashes  with Somali government
   soldiers  in southern Mogadishu's Wardhigley neighborhood, Somalia, 24
   June 2010

   Bahoku  expressed regrets that civilians are regularly caught in cross
   fire, but he said that is the nature of the place called Mogadishu.

   The  AMISOM spokesman also said he wanted to clarify that not all dead
   bodies in Mogadishu are necessarily those of civilians.

   āSome  of  the  dead,  in  fact, the majority of those bodies that are
   being talked about are bodies of the fighters, but they are putting on
   the same clothes as any other Somali,ā he said.

   African  leaders meeting in Ugandaās capital, Kampala this weekend are
   likely  to  consider  sending  more  troops  to  Somalia or change the
   mandate of AMISOM.

   Major  Bahoku  said  the peacekeepers will carry out whatever decision
   reached in Kampala.

   āThe decision of the AU summit in Kampala is the decision of the heads
   of state. I donāt think Iām at liberty to comment on whatever decision
   they will take. They are leaders of Africa and we trust that they have
   got  the  wisdom  to take a decision concerning any country in Africa.
   And  so  any  decision  that  they  take  that  can  be helpful toward
   resolving  this  conflict  would be very welcome by AMISOM troops that
   were  mandated  by  the same leaders to come and help the Somalis gain
   their freedom and peace,ā Bahoku said.

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