The international community has condemned the killing of Somalia's National Security Minister, Omar Hashi Aden, in a suicide car bomb in Beletweyne, north of the capital Mogadishu on Thursday.
In a joint statement the UN, the African Union (AU), the European Union (EU), the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the League of Arab States (LAS) condemned this week's upsurge in violence in Mogadishu, where another suicide bomb or shelling is reported to have killed at least ten people attending a mosque.
They called on the transitional federal government of Somalia not to be deterred in its pursuit for peace by the actions of a small minority.
"This deplorable attack once again demonstrates that the extremists will stop at nothing in their desperate attempt to seize power from the legitimate Government of Somalia by force," the organizations said in a joint statement received here Friday.
"These extremists, both Somali and foreigners, failed in their recent coup d'état but are continuing their indiscriminate violence. They are a threat not only to the country, but to the IGAD region and the international community," the statement said.
The organizations urged the Somali government not to be deterred by the violent crimes of a small minority and to continue its efforts for peace and reconciliation through the Djibouti Process.
It was the UN-facilitated Djibouti process which aided the formation of a new Government of National Unity in February, as well as the creation of a newly-expanded Parliament and election of President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed.
The Thursday's attack in Beledweyne, which is north of the capital, Mogadishu, is the latest in a new wave of violence that began in early May between government troops and the opposition Al-Shabaab and Hesbul Islam groups.
"The AU, IGAD, LAS and UN sent their sincere condolences to the family and friends of Minister Hashi and the other victims of this cowardly suicide bombing as well as to the government and the people of Somalia," the statement said.
"We pledge our full support to the government particularly at this critical time and call for all Somalis to rally behind their government and all those who are working for peace and stability. We also call on the international community to put its firm support behind Somalia's legal and legitimate government."
Also voicing his concern about the upsurge in violence is the independent UN expert on the situation of human rights in Somalia, Shamsul Bari, who stressed that the fighting must stop immediately and that perpetrators be held to account.
"All the parties to the conflict have a responsibility to save lives and protect the civilian population," he said.The international community has condemned the killing of Somalia's National Security... more
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