Somalis protest over U.S. bombing

The U.S. said the attack was aimed at a “known al-Qaeda terrorist” but has not said whether its goal was achieved.

Islamist spokesman Sheikh Mukhtar Robow said the buildings destroyed had all been inhabited by civilians.

“We are complaining about the air strike by the superpower on civilians,” said Ruun Sheikh Mohammed, who runs a local women’s group.

At least four civilians were reportedly killed but an Islamist spokesman said none of their fighters were hurt.

The U.S. said the attack was aimed at a “known al-Qaeda terrorist” but has not said whether its goal was achieved.

Islamist insurgents seized Dhoble town last week and reports said a leader, Hassan Turki, had been in the area.

Mr Turki is on the U.S. list of “financers of terrorism”.

The BBC’s Mohammed Olad Hassan in the capital, Mogadishu, says he has not been seen or heard from since the attack.

The Somali government has not yet commented on whether it gave the U.S. permission to launch the air strike on its territory.

New strategy

One of the organisers of the protest in Dhoble told the BBC she feared that some people may still be trapped under the rubble of the buildings destroyed when three missiles landed on the town.

“We are complaining about the air strike by the superpower on civilians,” said Ruun Sheikh Mohammed, who runs a local women’s group.

There are reports that at least one of the blasts may have been caused by a cruise missile.

Posted by Antistar