(MENAFN- Khaama Press) At least 27 people, including two children, died, and 53 were injured in Southern Somalia in mortar shells explosions, according to media reports on Friday. Abdi Ahmed Ali said during a press conference that a blast“caused by unexploded mortar shells” happened close to the village of Qoryoley, around 120 kilometres south of Mogadishu.
“We request the government and aid agencies to clear mines and shells from the area,” he added.
Earlier, officials and residents confirmed to Reuters that the death toll raised to 22.
According to the residents, the unexploded shells with which the kids were playing were allegedly used by the warring factions in Somalia.
Ibrahim Hassan, a local of Qoryoley, told AFP that most of the casualties were“young children” who“died on the spot after one of them struck an explosive device near a playground.”
The al-Shabaab group, which has been fighting the internationally supported federal government of Somalia since 2007, has set its sights on the area.
On May, in an attack on an African Union base in Bulo Marer, a town about 30 kilometres from Qoryoley, the al-Qaeda-affiliated militia killed 54 Ugandan peacekeepers.
Although the movement has lost control of Somalia's major towns and cities, it continues to operate in broad portions of the country, carrying out operations against civilian and security targets.
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