Seven injured in mortar shell attack on parliament in Mogadishu

GOOBJOOG NEWS|MOGADISHU: At least seven people have been injured following mortar shells attacks at the parliament building within the presidential palace in Mogadishu.

Sources said the shells which hit the building as a joint session of the federal parliament went on caused a scare as the new lawmakers scampered for safety. Among those injured are two bodyguards attached to the leader of Wadajir party Abdirahman Abdishakur who is also a presidential candidate.

Meanwhile, the new legislators have approved procedures for the election of speakers for both the Upper and Lower Houses. The Upper House will elect a speaker on April 26 and the Lower House will do the following day.

As the proceedings went ahead, members of the so-called NISA block allied to Villa Somalia led by de facto NISA deputy Abdullahi Kulane attempted to disrupt the session after they engaged in a shouting match.