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UN, AU condemn twin suicide bomb attacks near Mogadishu airport

Xinhua, July 26, 2016 Adjust font size:

The UN and African Union envoys in Somalia on Tuesday condemned twin suicide car bomb attacks in the vicinity of Mogadishu International Airport that killed at least 13 people and injured five others.

In separate statements, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General (SRSG) for Somalia Michael Keating said the horrific incident is a fresh example of the extremists' desperate attempts to disrupt political progress.

"Al-Shabaab have once again carried out a ruthless attack that has claimed the lives of at least a dozen Somalis," Keating said in a statement issued in Mogadishu.

Suicide bombers detonated two vehicles laden with explosives near the perimeter of the airport enclave at around 9 a.m. local time. Keating confirmed that no United Nations personnel are among the confirmed dead.

He said the overwhelming majority of Somalis have rejected such terrorist tactics and the use of violence to achieve political objectives.

"Neither the Somali authorities nor the United Nations will be deterred from moving forward," he said. The Horn of Africa nation is due to hold limited franchise elections later this year.

The entrance targeted in the bombing is regularly used by employees who work at the airport. Residents in the area also reported hearing two massive simultaneous explosions.

Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (SRCC) for Somalia, Francisco Madeira also condemned the "senseless attacks" that he said aim to disrupt and cripple the lives of ordinary Somalis.

"These attacks must be stopped. AMISOM confirms that there have been two bomb explosions at checkpoints near entrances to its base at Halane this morning," Madeiera said, noting that investigations were underway on the number of casualties and damage.

A suicide bomber rammed car packed with explosives through a Somali security checkpoint and then detonated the explosives causing casualties.

Seconds later another car arrived and this time the suicide bomber detonated the car close to security forces and nearby African Union forces. Endit