afrol News, 15 September - An Ugandan soldier from African Union (AU) mission in Somalia was killed today in a roadside bomb explosion in capital Mogadishu, that left two other people wounded.

AU spokesperson Barigye Bahoku said slain Ugandan is second member of contingent to be killed in Mogadishu in past few days.

Mr Bahoku said an improvised explosive device apparently hidden under a pile of trash exploded, killing the soldier.

"Such attacks would never fulfill aim of attackers who want to deter us from keeping up good work for Somalia under AU mandate," he said.

Mr Bahoku said today's explosion was second deadly attack against AU peacekeepers in last 24 hours.

In a different incident, another Ugandan soldier was reportedly killed yesterday by Islamist fighters, wounding two others in Mogadishu.

In yet another attack, a bomb reportedly went off yesterday in Baidoa, capital of Bay region, wounding three police officers.

Police commander in Bay region Colonel Ali Mu'allim, said the bomb was intended for his vehicle, which was traveling through city center.

Baidoa is located around 250 kilometers northeast of Mogadishu and is the seat of Somali parliament.

Baidoa has been relatively quiet compared to violence in Mogadishu, but more recently there has been an increase in attacks on government officials, reports show.

Last week a Somali lawmaker, Muhammad Osman Maye, was shot and killed by an unknown gunman in city.

Mr Maye's assailant is suspected to be a member of A-Shabab, a group of young Islamists who are waging attacks against interim government and Ethiopian army stationed in Somalia.

Mr Maye is second MP to be killed in Baidoa, since transitional government moved there from exile in 2005.

Somalia has not had a stable government since 1991. Islamist rebels reportedly took over Mogadishu briefly along with other areas in central and southern Somalia before Somali and Ethiopian armed forces ousted them in early 2007.

Rebels are said to have since regrouped and are waging almost daily attacks on Somali forces, Ethiopian troops, foreign aid workers and local civilians.

Media reports show that in recent months, Islamists have slowly been taking over towns and villages throughout country.

A recent takeover took place in Baldouin in central Somalia, after Ethiopia troops withdrew from town.

According to AU, nearly 1,600 Ugandan troops are stationed as peacekeepers in Somalia, where they help guard key buildings and Mogadishu port where food aid is unloaded.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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