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| Africa Horn | |
| Ugandan peacekeepers take control of Mogadishu airport | |
| 2007-03-13 | |
| (SomaliNet) The Ugandan forces of the AU peacekeepers have officially taken over control of the main Mogadishu airport in Somalia capital from the Ethiopian troops, the spokesman for the African Union peacekeeping said on Sunday. Paddy Ankunda Faith! 'Tis Paddy Ankunda!
Captain Ankunda confirmed that the mission of the Ugandan troops in Mogadishu is to establish the security and facilitate ways to promote peaceful dialogue among the rival sides in Somalia. Ankunda also talked about the matter of the plane that caught fire at the airport recently. The plane was carrying military supply to the Ugandan troops in Somalia. He said they are still conducting investigations over whether the fire on the plane was technical fault or it was hit by a rocket fired by the Islamist supporters. “Well as far as we are concerned, we cannot confirm on behalf of Islamic that they are the people shot down the plane but we have instituted a team of inquiry that is going to find out what caused the fire and then when we get information we will make it public,” Ankunda said. Captain Ankunda said that the plane was towed from the runway of the airport and is now under investigation and repairing. “The commercial planes are normally landing and taking off and the security is assured,” he said. Ankunda stressed that there are ongoing efforts in the capital to pacify the rival sides in the country to get sustainable solution for the conflict. Two Ugandan soldiers were wounded on Wednesday night after unknown gunmen attacked the African Union convoy passing by KM4 Street, one of Mogadishu’s most hostile roads for the foreign troops. Paddy Ankunda, said the Ugandans were on their way to Global hotel in north of Mogadishu where some government officials are based when they were ambushed. | |
| Posted by:Fred |