A mortar attack on Somalia's presidential residence in Mogadishu Tuesday killed 13 civilians nearby, just hours after President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed moved there from a provincial town. "Eight people from one family have been killed in one house near a mosque when a mortar shell hit their house," resident Abdulkadir Ali Digi said. "A family of eight has been wiped out," said another witness, who requested anonymity, while officials said Yusuf was unhurt and there were no casualties in the residence.
"The mortars landed inside and outside Villa Somalia," according to witness Jana Abdullahi, a taxi driver.
"The president was in his bedroom and he was unhurt because no mortar shell landed near him," a presidential security official said, asking not to be named, adding that there were no casualties inside the residence.
Five other civilians, including two children, were reported killed in crossfire between Somali-Ethiopian troops and the attackers. "I have seen two children who were killed by a mortar shell in their house that is near the presidential palace. It was terrible," said resident Abdul-Hafib Ali.
"Two people were killed outside where they were walking. It appears they were taken by stray bullets," said Hassan Yusuf Mohamed, another resident.
"My nephew was killed by stray bullets," said Gutale Hussein. Another resident said the attackers arrived near the residence in small vehicles and sealed off the neighbourhood. "They did not cover their faces, but they told civilians not to approach before they started firing," said resident Muhamoud Jeylani.
Witness Abdallaj Haji Hassan said the government troops responded to the attack with mortar fire which hit the ground and caused no casualties. Residents said the fighting was brief before the attackers fled.