The attack happened while parliament was
in session to pass a motion asking leaders of the shaky government to appear
within three days for a vote of confidence.
One member of parliament was wounded in
the face and five government troops were also hurt. Government and African
Union troops responded by firing into the main Bakara Market. At least 12
people were killed and 40 were wounded there, said Ali Muse, the head of
Mogadishu's ambulance service.
The legislators accuse Somalia's
transitional government of failing to perform its duties, including trying to
foster peace between the country's warring factions and increasing humanitarian
efforts.
Somalia hasn't had a functioning
government since 1991, when warlords overthrew the president. The country's
most dangerous militant group, the Al-Shabab, has increased attacks on the
government complex and is believed responsible for Thursday's attack. The
militants who control much of this Horn of Africa country want to overthrow the
government.
In a hospital run by Burundian
peacekeepers, small children flinched as AU and government troops fired their
own mortars.
"We need peace so badly," said
17-year-old year old Kalima Abdi, who lay under a blue mosquito net. "The
fighting is too much."
Abdi was paralyzed a month ago by a
mortar that was fired at an African Union base but landed on her house, killing
her seven brothers and sisters.
