Ethiopia strongly condemns Somalia Bomb slaying

By Tesfa-Alem Tekle

December 4, 2009 (ADDIS ABABA) — The Ethiopian government in the strongest terms has deplored the suicide attack that ripped through a university graduation ceremony on Thursday in Somalia capital, Mogadishu.

At least 20 people, including three government Ministers were killed in Thursday’s bombing when a man dressed like a women blew him self up in the middle of a graduation ceremony of medical students at a Hotel in the heart of the capital.

“The Government of Ethiopia believes such attacks should only redouble the determination of the international community and the United Nations Security Council to use all possible efforts to bring about peace and stability in Somalia.’’ Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in press statement.

“In the face of these extremist actions, it is for us all to offer all the sympathy and support we can to the Government and the People of Somalia.’” The statement added.

The Government of Ethiopia expressed its condolences to the people and Government of Somalia and the families of all those who lost their lives in this appalling terrorist atrocity.

Three journalists and a number of graduating students were also among the dead. At least 60 are also reported to have been injured.

The students had been graduating from Benadir University, which was set up in 2002 to train doctors to replace those who had fled overseas or been killed in the civil war.

Somalia’s most powerful Islamic militant group, Al-Shebab, has been taking responsibility to past suicide attacks carried out in the war ravaged nation. But group’s spokes person, Sheik Ali Mohamud Rage today denied his group’s involvement to yesterday’s attack and said his group is ‘‘very sad’’ over the deadly incident.

Despite his denial Somali government officials are pointing their fingers at Al-Shebab.

WIDE SPREAD CONDEMNATION

The devastating attack, which came after US president’s decision of 30,000 troops surge to Afghanistan, has raised world wide condemnations and also gave the international community a signal of urgency to speed up pledges to action and to renew efforts to support the weak security capacity of Somalia and also to the African Union mission to Somalia (AMISOM).

The African Union (AU) condemned the bombing saying “inhumane and cowardly”.

The African Union said that the blast would “not deter the resolve and determination of the African Union to support the people of Somalia in their quest for peace and reconciliation”.

Similar condemnation was also echoed from the UN, EU, the Arab league and from various countries which said the attack won’t deter the international community to continue its support to the fragile Somali government.

(ST)