Ship docks at Mogadishu first time since 1995

16 Dec 2004 17:23:27 GMT

MOGADISHU, Dec 16 (Reuters) - A boat docked at Mogadishu port for the firt time in nine years on Thursday but only after Somali gunmen opened fire at the vessel in a failed attempt to prevent its arrival, residents said.

The boat turned around and moved out to sea after the militiamen sent bullets spattering into the water around it, but the later docked when the gunfire died down, witnesses said.

There was no immediate word on why gunmen opened fire.

But residents note the sea port lies in a no man's land between the territories of three Mogadishu warlords: Hussein Aideed, Muse Sudi Yalahow and Mohammed Jama Furuh.

The boat was carrying a consignment of goods for a group of businessmen who had spent the past couple of days cleaning and rehabilitating the port voluntarily.

Mogadishu's sea port, and its airport, have been closed since 1995 due to militia mayhem.

In the absence of the main sea port a private port called El Ma'an north of the capital has dominated the city's maritime trade, which is mainly with Yemen, Kenya and Dubai. El Ma'an is owned by a group of businessmen who have their own militia and weapons to protect their interests.

Somalia collapsed into lawlessness with the 1991 overthrow of military ruler Mohammed Siad Barre and has since been without an effective central government.

A government was established last month after two years of reconciliation talks among clans and militia factions in the safety of neighbouring Kenya but the administration has yet to return to Somalia to start work.

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