Somali government approves a law to fight terrorism
Aweys Osman Yusuf
Mogadishu 12, Feb.07 ( Sh.M.Network) - The transitional government ministers have officially ratified anti-terrorism law on Sunday after long debate and review over the new law in Baidoa, the government’s temporary headquarter, among the cabinet ministers.
Madobe Nour Mohammed, the government information minister, has told Shabelle by the phone from Baidoa, southern Somalia, that ministers have finally approved the anti-terrorism law. He said several items were removed from the law after a long dispute, pointing out the government adopted 18 articles which the law is mad up to fight terrorism.
He said the government regards the double suicide bombings against president Yusuf on 18 September and the other bombing in Baidoa as terrorism. “The people who are caught with terrorist acts will face several punishments: execution, taking over properties, life imprisonment and deportation,†he said.
He stressed that the new law will recognize any one who destabilizes the peace and security in the country as a terrorist.
Asked if the people opposing the government will face the terrorism law, he said the government can have an opposition. “But the g will not tolerate destabilization and terrorism in the country,†he said.
Despite the new laws, barraged artillery and mortar bombs do explode in the capital Mogadishu where some of the residents began fleeing to other provinces in the country for safety.
At least seven persons were killed and dozens more were wounded in Kismayu and Mogadishu yesterday and last night alone.
Five people were killed in Kismayu, 500 km south of the capital after en explosion occurred in a gathering in the town square yesterday, while two, a father and his son were killed in Mogadishu last night after mortars rained down on different neighborhoods in the capital.
Shabelle Media Network Somalia
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very stupid move.