August 01, 2007	Wednesday	Rajab 16, 1428

MOGADISHU, July 31: At least seven people were killed and 11 others wounded in separate attacks in the Somali capital on Tuesday, witnesses said. Police officer Mohamed Ali Ganey confirmed that several civilians had been killed in Mogadishu's southern Arafat district but did not give an exact figure.

Local resident Farah Mohamed Sahal said four people were killed in the area when a roadside bomb went off as a government military convoy was passing by.

“I have counted the bodies of four civilians,” Sahal said, adding that five others were also wounded.

In a separate incident, a young boy was killed when unidentified assailants hurled a hand grenade at police patrolling the main Bakara market, a witness said.

Six civilians were reportedly injured in the attack.

Meanwhile, two bodies were found dumped near the market early Tuesday.

“I have seen two dead men lying in the market. They were shot in the head and shoulders,” said local resident Abdulahi Diriye.

Insurgents have stepped up attacks in and around Mogadishu since the start of the year when Ethiopia-backed government forces toppled the Islamic Courts Union, which briefly controlled swathes of the Horn of Africa country.

The Somali capital is currently hosting a national reconciliation conference, gathering more than 1,000 clan representatives, which kicked off on July 15.

Somalia has been plagued by instability that has defied more than a dozen peace initiatives since the 1991 overthrow of former dictator Siad Barre.—AFP