AFP

Somalia aid worker shot in the head: official

Thu Aug 21, 5:23 PM

MOGADISHU (AFP) - An unknown assailant on Thursday shot a Somali World Health Organization employee in the head as violence left at least 22 people dead, a UN official and witnesses said.

"The WHO polio eradication officer of Gedo region was shot and seriously injured by a man armed with (an) AK47 and he was taken to Nairobi this afternoon (Thursday)," said a UN official speaking on condition of anonymity.

Garad Abdulahi, a witness in the town of Bardhere, 400 kilometres (250 miles) southwest of Mogadishu, said WHO worker Bakal Mohammed was leaving his home when he was attacked.

Meanwhile, Somali Islamists attacked the president's residence in Mogadishu sparking fierce exchanges with Ethiopian and government forces in which six civilians were killed, witnesses said.

Two mortar shells landed in the compound of President Abdullahi Yusuf, who is currently in Ethiopia.

Mortar also smashed into houses in the capital's heavily populated Bakara district, wounding 12 civilians.

"Four civilians were killed when a heavy artillery shell landed in front of a big mosque in Bakara market. Seven others were also injured," witness Hassan Adan Yarisow said.

Another witness, Feisal Ibarahim, said he saw another two dead civilians.

Elsewhere, in separate clashes between Islamist fighters and a local clan militia in the southern port town of Kismayo at least 16 more people died.

"The number of (dead) people I saw today was 16, but it could also be higher than that since the fighting is still going on and some places are unreachable," said elder Abdukadir Ali Hashi.

Somalia has lacked an effective government since the 1991 ouster of dictator Mohamed Siad Barre, sparking a deadly power struggle that has defied numerous bids to restore stability in the Horn of Africa nation.

Aid organisation workers are regularly targeted with six WHO drivers killed since the start of the year.

Aid groups have scaled down operations owing to growing insecurity largely blamed on Islamist militants who have waged a guerrilla war since they were ousted by joint Somali-Ethiopian forces in early 2007.

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