Somali minister's house attacked, port bombed

MOGADISHU, Feb 13 (Reuters) A grenade was thrown at a Somali government minister's house overnight and mortar bombs hit areas near Mogadishu's port in the latest spate of post-war violence, witnesses said today.

Gunmen also attacked a police station in the Somali capital, as insecurity rises in the chaotic Horn of Africa nation which has endured almost daily violence since Ethiopian and government forces ousted an Islamist movement in January.

The attacks, which have put pressure on the interim government as it tries to restore stability in what is already one of the world's most dangerous cities, have been blamed on Islamist remnants, some of whom have vowed holy war.

A witness who lives near Commerce Minister Abdullahi Ahmed Afrah said his house in northern Mogadishu was attacked late yesterday.

''A hand grenade was last night thrown at the minister's house in Yaqshid,'' the resident who declined to be named said. ''He was in the house at the time of the attack but he survived, he was not hurt.'' In another part of town, four mortars bombs landed near the port, but no one was injured, another witness said.

''One of the mortars landed near my house on a deserted building,'' said a resident who lives near the port and gave his name as Liban. ''I then heard three loud explosions after that, one of which fell near the port the other two fell in residential areas but luckily no one was wounded.'' People living in the southern Madina neighbourhood, said attackers had opened fire at the Wadajir police station but fled after heavy fighting. There was no news of casualties.

The interim government is hoping a proposed African Union (AU) peacekeeping force can be deployed as soon as possible to stabilise Somalia.

The UN Security Council was yesterday considering a British-drafted resolution to authorise the force.

Diplomats have urged rich nations to back and fund the AU peacekeeping mission, but only about 4,000 troops have so far been pledged of the 8,000 called for.

Before their defeat, the Islamists had controlled Mogadishu and much of the south since June. Somalia has been in upheaval since the 1991 overthrow of dictator Mohamed Siad Barre.

Reuters DKA GC1440