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| AU peacekeepers killed in Somalia | AU peacekeepers killed in Somalia |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Four African Union soldiers have been killed after a roadside bomb struck their convoy while on patrol at the north of Somalia's capital, Mogadishu. | Four African Union soldiers have been killed after a roadside bomb struck their convoy while on patrol at the north of Somalia's capital, Mogadishu. |
| AU spokesman Paddy Ankunda said five other soldiers were injured in the explosion targeted at the peacekeepers. | |
| The attack is the deadliest on the peacekeepers since 1,600 Uganda soldiers deployed to the city in March. | The attack is the deadliest on the peacekeepers since 1,600 Uganda soldiers deployed to the city in March. |
| A proposed force of 8,000 AU soldiers is due to take over security duties from the Ethiopian army. | A proposed force of 8,000 AU soldiers is due to take over security duties from the Ethiopian army. |
| Ethiopia's troops have been in Mogadishu since December at the invitation of Somalia's transitional government fighting Islamist insurgents and clan militiamen. | Ethiopia's troops have been in Mogadishu since December at the invitation of Somalia's transitional government fighting Islamist insurgents and clan militiamen. |
| The attack comes only a day after Somalia's President Abdullahi Yusuf held talks with his Ugandan counterpart Yoweri Museveni in Kampala over the mission. | The attack comes only a day after Somalia's President Abdullahi Yusuf held talks with his Ugandan counterpart Yoweri Museveni in Kampala over the mission. |
| "We lost four and five were wounded. It was a roadside bomb and its intention was to hit the peacekeepers," Mr Ankunda told Reuters news agency. | "We lost four and five were wounded. It was a roadside bomb and its intention was to hit the peacekeepers," Mr Ankunda told Reuters news agency. |
| He told the BBC that the wounded would be evacuated to Uganda for treatment. | |
| Cinema attack | |
| Earlier, four people were killed in the Gedo region, south of the capital, Mogadishu, when an unknown man threw an explosive at a cinema hall. | |
| # | |
| Baardheere Police chief Mohammed Yare said 20 others were seriously injured during the attack which took place while they were watching an Indian film. | |
| "We do not know who is responsible for the attack but are investigating," Mr Yare told the Associated Press news agency. | |
| On Monday, a similar blast occurred at a different cinema hall but there were no casualties during the incident. | |
| Health officials in Gedo are battling to treat the victims of the attack and lack resources. | |
| "Most have serious wounds and we are trying to help though we do not have enough medicine," Dr Bashir Ali of Shifo Hospital where most of the casualties were taken said. During the six-month rule in Mogadishu and southern parts of Somalia, the Union of Islamic Courts banned cinemas, television viewing and music. | |
| No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. | |
| Warning | |
| On Tuesday, the US and the AU warned Ethiopia not to withdraw its troops from Somalia before peacekeepers are deployed to replace them. | On Tuesday, the US and the AU warned Ethiopia not to withdraw its troops from Somalia before peacekeepers are deployed to replace them. |
| AU commission chief Alpha Oumar Konare said it would be a "catastrophe" if Ethiopia pulled out too soon. | AU commission chief Alpha Oumar Konare said it would be a "catastrophe" if Ethiopia pulled out too soon. |
| US Africa envoy Jendayi Frazer said it would probably be several months before the full peacekeeping force arrived. | US Africa envoy Jendayi Frazer said it would probably be several months before the full peacekeeping force arrived. |
| Ethiopia's prime minister says he wants to withdraw all his troops, after they helped oust the Union of Islamic Courts. | Ethiopia's prime minister says he wants to withdraw all his troops, after they helped oust the Union of Islamic Courts. |
| Somalia has been without an effective national government for 16 years, controlled by rival militias and awash with guns. | Somalia has been without an effective national government for 16 years, controlled by rival militias and awash with guns. |