Rebels kill scores in Somali capital blast

Follow us

The twisted axle from the exploded truck lay on blackened soil. A body draped with a red shawl lay nearby. People used corrugated iron, rugs and white sheeting to carry corpses away from the devastation at a normally bustling junction.

Ambulances rushed to and fro past twisted, charred trees and a burnt out car. Hundreds of parents stood weeping outside the Madina Hospital in Mogadishu after being denied access for security reasons and nurses said they were overwhelmed.

"I was among the first people to arrive here moments after the explosion. I looked around and reassured those who were still alive," said witness Halma Abdi.

Britain slammed the blast as "callous" while France said it was a "vile terrorist attack" and reasserted its support for the country's U.N.-backed transitional government.

The U.N. special envoy to Somalia, Augustine Mahiga, said he was deeply saddened by the senseless, cowardly attack.

"It is very difficult to prevent these types of terrorist attacks which we have consistently warned are likely to be on the increase," he said.

The government said no senior officials were hurt in the attack on the ministry buildings.

BURNS AND FRACTURES

Al Shabaab insurgents pulled most of their fighters out of Mogadishu in August allowing government troops and African Union soldiers to seize much of the capital. But the rebels vowed to still carry out attacks on government installations.