UN RIGHTS EXPERT URGES SOMALIS TO HELP PREVENT FURTHER BLOODSHED AFTER LATEST ATTACK
An independent United Nations human rights expert has called on all Somalis to help prevent the kind of bloodshed witnessed this week when 33 people were killed during a hotel bombing in the capital, and to assist in bringing those responsible to justice.
"I urge a grassroots effort to prevent a repetition of this atrocious act," said Shamsul Bari, the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Somalia, referring to the 24 August attack on the Muna Hotel in Mogadishu.
Four members of Somalia's Transitional Federal Parliament died in the attack, which was strongly condemned by UN officials and the Security Council, and is the latest act of violence to hit the strife-torn Horn of Africa nation.
"This deplorable attack once again demonstrates that the extremists will stop at nothing in their desperate attempt to seize power by force," said Dr. Bari.
"However, the perpetrators of these desperate acts during the holy month of Ramadan will never win the hearts and minds of Somali people," he added.
Violence in Mogadishu has led to some 3,000 conflict-related casualties so far this year and uprooted around 200,000 people from the city, which has been the scene of ongoing clashes between Government troops and Islamist militant groups, including Al-Shabaab.
"I appeal to the international community, as a matter of urgency, to rethink and renew its commitment to giving the protection of civilians and their access to humanitarian assistance the highest priority in Somalia," said Dr. Bari.
An independent United Nations human rights expert has called on all Somalis to help prevent the kind of bloodshed witnessed this week when 33 people were killed during a hotel bombing in the capital, and to assist in bringing those responsible to justice.
"I urge a grassroots effort to prevent a repetition of this atrocious act," said Shamsul Bari, the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Somalia, referring to the 24 August attack on the Muna Hotel in Mogadishu.
Four members of Somalia's Transitional Federal Parliament died in the attack, which was strongly condemned by UN officials and the Security Council, and is the latest act of violence to hit the strife-torn Horn of Africa nation.
"This deplorable attack once again demonstrates that the extremists will stop at nothing in their desperate attempt to seize power by force," said Dr. Bari.
"However, the perpetrators of these desperate acts during the holy month of Ramadan will never win the hearts and minds of Somali people," he added.
Violence in Mogadishu has led to some 3,000 conflict-related casualties so far this year and uprooted around 200,000 people from the city, which has been the scene of ongoing clashes between Government troops and Islamist militant groups, including Al-Shabaab.
"I appeal to the international community, as a matter of urgency, to rethink and renew its commitment to giving the protection of civilians and their access to humanitarian assistance the highest priority in Somalia," said Dr. Bari.
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