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AU, Somalia condemn terror attacks, vow to fight extremism

Xinhua, December 12, 2016 Adjust font size:

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and African Union top envoy on Monday condemned Sunday's Mogadishu seaport attack and vowed to defeat extremists as death toll rose to 29.

Mohamud in a statement called on security forces in the country to be on high alert to prevent any other attacks noting that innocent people have lost their lives and families.

"I condemn these brutal attacks against our people. The priority of these groups is to destroy the people of this country whether civilians, community or security forces," he said in Mogadishu.

A vehicle-borne improvised explosive device was detonated on Sunday morning a few meters away from the entrance of the seaport, where civilians normally gather. Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack.

Most of the victims turned out to be truck drivers and port workers who were having tea in tea kiosks when the bomb went off on Sunday morning.

At least 29 people were killed and several others sustained injuries. The Somali leader said the attack would not break his people but unite them more in the fight against terror.

"We will do our best to eliminate these groups in due course," the president added.

Parliamentary Elections are ongoing in Mogadishu and various parts of the country ahead of the December 28 presidential vote.

In his statement, the AU Special Representative Francisco Madeira also condemned the terrorist attack in Mogadishu and urged vigilance.

Madeira said a deliberate attack on civilians going about their lives is not only heinous but also attests to Al-Shabaab's lack of consideration for human life.

"By disrupting and taking the lives of innocent Somali citizens and denying them the right to go about their daily life freely, peacefully and in confidence, Al-Shabaab is desperately struggling to remain relevant after AMISOM and Somali National Security Forces have effectively prevented them from making true their decision to disrupt the electoral process which is now nearing completion," he said. Endit