Mortar blasts rock Somali capital, five killed

MOGADISHU, Feb 20 (Reuters) Mortar bombs hit several parts of Mogadishu before dawn today, witnesses said, killing at least five people in one of the fiercest bombardments since an Islamist movement was chased from Somalia's capital last month.

The hilltop presidential palace, Villa Somalia, and the coastal city's defence headquarters were among the targets hit, Deputy Defence Minister Salad Ali Jelle told Reuters.

''Two civilians living near the headquarters were killed and a government soldier there was wounded,'' he said, blaming remnants of the Islamic courts who have vowed to wage holy war.

A Reuters TV cameraman saw five bodies lying in the street in a western neighbourhood also hit by mortar rounds. Dozens of residents were wounded in the blasts, hospital sources said.

A spate of near-daily rocket and mortar strikes have challenged the government's bid to impose security and let Ethiopian troops who helped it oust the Islamists go home.

Yesterday, security officials unveiled a rapid response paramilitary unit of specially trained police and military personnel to combat the guerrilla-style attacks.

REUTERS SY SSC1339