Tuesday, May 27, 2008
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MOGADISHU, Somalia (AFP)--A Somali militia opened fire at elders trying to broker peace between rival clans Tuesday, killing five elders in the country's southern Gedo region, witnesses said.
The gunmen raided a meeting of elders from the Marehan and Luwey clans seeking an end to a land dispute and opened fire, they said.
"Militia from Luwey clan opened fire...killing five of them on the spot," said Abdiqani Adan Dahir, chairman of the Marehan elders committee. "Seven others have been seriously wounded."
He said all the slain elders were from his clan.
"We are still wondering why they indiscriminately shot at elders pushing for peace," said Ahmed Omar, another elder.
The shattered African nation has been wracked by violence since the 1991 ouster of dictator Mohamed Siad Barre led to a bloody power struggle that has defied numerous bids to restore stability.
Source: AFP, May 27, 2008
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