Somali MP survives ambush

Somalia has been ruled by the gun for 10 years

At least seven people have been killed and nine others wounded in Somalia in an attack on a convoy of vehicles carrying a member of the new transitional parliament.

The attack came just days after another MP, Hassan Ahmed Elmi, was shot dead at his home in Mogadishu.

I am not even sure whether they really wanted me personally or something else, that's just part of Somalia's problems

MP Ahmed Dualeh Ghelleh

Eyewitnesses said about 40 militiamen in four armed pick-up trucks ambushed the convoy between Mogadishu and Afgoie.

The interim MP, Ahmed Dualeh Ghelleh or Haf, managed to survive the attack - but three of his security staff were killed, as was his driver.

The three others who died are thought to have been attackers.

Mr Haf said afterwards he did not know who his assailants were, but he said ambushes remained common in Somalia.

Demobilising

Several warlords are opposed to the transitional government of President Abdulkassim Salat Hassan and the 245-member assembly, which was elected in neighbouring Djibouti in August.

Almost all the warlords oppose the president and his government

On Thursday night a grenade was thrown into a hotel where several MPs and ministers were staying in Mogadishu, but no-one was injured.

Last month, unidentified gunmen shot and killed General Youssuf Talan, a peace supporter who had been appointed to a committee to oversee the demobilisation of militias in Somalia.

The government has pledged to disarm the militias and their leaders, but Somalia has had no national army or police force since president Mohammed Siad Barre was overthrown nearly 10 years ago.

In an effort to return security to the country, the new government has been recruiting them, in a move mainly financed by the local business community.

Talks took place in the Kenyan capital Nairobi earleir this week between Somali delegates and UN staff, aid agencies, donors and international experts to discuss how to demobilise the armed militiamen.