Mogadishu, Somalia (AHN) – Somali businessmen on Saturday called on the Somali Transitional Federal Government and African Union peacekeepers to stop shelling Bakara, the largest and busiest market in the Somali capital.

In an interview with a local radio station, Ali Mohammed Siad, known as Ali Dhere, the chairman of Bakara Market businessmen, appealed to both Somali government and AMISOM troops to stop bombarding the market, which is a heavily populated area.

Siad said barrages by AMISOM had a great impact on the commercial area’s movements and activities, and the market may have to shut down.

“The government is needed to speak with African Union officials to stop bombardments completely which kill many [innocent] people,” Siad said during the interview.

He accused AMISOM forces of mass killing, referring to the people dying in Bakara Market because of indiscriminate shelling.

Nathan Mugishu, land force commander of the African Union Mission, has denied charges that AMISOM is indiscriminate and haphazard in its shelling, saying “it is known those [who] pound mortars on the civilian people.” He didn’t specify who he meant.

Bakara is an area tightly controlled by Islamists and government officials say it is where Insurgents organize themselves to launch attacks.

The statement by the Bakara businessman comes after days of fighting between government forces backed by AMISOM against Islamist insurgents.

About 85 people were killed and more than 100 others injured in recent violence in Mogadishu.

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