Somali parliament strikes session, gunfire heard at besieged resort | Information

Authorities officers ceaselessly use the Villa Rosa resort within the Somali capital Mogadishu for conferences.

Somalia’s parliament has introduced the postponement of a scheduled session as experiences continued of gunfire being heard inside a besieged Mogadishu resort.

Gunfire was heard from the Villa Rose resort, close to the presidential residence, on Monday, a close-by resident and a police officer mentioned.

The Villa Rose was invaded on Sunday by fighters from al-Shabab, an al-Qaeda-linked armed group, utilizing weapons and explosives, with a police officer saying on the time that some authorities officers escaped from its home windows.

“There may be nonetheless heavy gunfire contained in the resort and we hear explosions now and again … we’re nonetheless in our homes since final evening, when the siege began,” Ismail Haaji, who lives close to the resort, advised Reuters.

Particular forces items, generally known as Gaashaan and Haramcad, had taken over operations, a police officer on the scene mentioned on situation of anonymity.

“The fighters who launched the assault are nonetheless combating contained in the resort, and they’re combating with the forces of Haramcad and Gaashaan, and safety forces try to rescue the individuals trapped contained in the resort,” the officer added.

The variety of casualties from the siege and the variety of individuals rescued was not but clear.

Authorities officers in Mogadishu ceaselessly use the Villa Rosa resort for conferences.

Somalia’s parliament mentioned it had postponed a scheduled session for each of its homes.

“All members of parliament of each councils are being knowledgeable that immediately’s scheduled assembly has been postponed,” it mentioned in a press release on its Fb web page.

Al-Shabab, which is looking for to topple the federal government and set up its personal rule primarily based on an excessive interpretation of Islamic regulation, ceaselessly phases assaults in Mogadishu and elsewhere.

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who was elected this yr, has launched a army offensive towards the group.