Explosions heard as Somalia’s presidential vote underway
MOGADISHU, MAY 15 (REUTERS)- Blasts rang out on Sunday in the Mogadishu airport area where parliament was meeting to choose Somalia’s new president in a vote essential to keep foreign aid coming to the impoverished nation tortured by three decades of civil war.
Half a dozen residents and a Reuters reporter heard what sounded like mortar shells. Somalis are used to frequent attacks on state institutions from Islamist insurgents.
“I counted three big sounds of mortar shells landing in the direction of the airport. We are shocked to hear those sounds of mortars when Mogadishu is under a complete curfew. Who is firing them?” said one of the residents, Halima Ibrahim.
There was no immediate word on any damage or casualties.
One source inside the heavily-guarded airport hangar, where the vote was taking place, told Reuters no explosions had been heard from inside, though there was a tumult of noise during counting from a first round of votes by lawmakers.