Date : 02/01/2014
PARIS, Jan 2 (KUNA) -- France on Thursday condemned a twin bomb attack in
Somalia on Wednesday in which around a dozen people died and scores were
wounded, according to preliminary figures.
The attacks took place in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, which is nominally
under government control but subject to raids and bombings by Al-Shebab
Islamic extremist militants and other anti-government militias.
Expressing condolences for the relatives of the victims, Paris reiterated
its support for the Somali government. France has given strong backing to the
Mogadishu authorities and has helped train security forces in both bilateral
and European programmes.
The French navy also plays a key role in helping fight piracy in the high
seas off Somalia, notably in the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean waterways.
"France supports the efforts of the Somali authorities to favour stability
(and) also welcomes the actions taken by the Somali police and army, as well
as those of the African Union mission in Somalia in order to restore peace and
security," a Foreign Ministry statement said. (end)
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KUNA 021528 Jan 14NNNN