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Somalia: Agitation continued for 2nd day over food
Wednesday, 07 May 2008
Somalia: Hundreds of youths hurled stones and blocked roads with blazing tires Tuesday in a second day of protests over soaring food prices that has frustrated residents already living in one of the world's most dangerous war zones.
The food protests were sparked by shopkeepers' refusal to accept some bank notes, apparently over fears of counterfeiters. The protests were not as widespread as on Monday, when tens of thousands took to the streets and two people died when troops fired into the crowds.

On Tuesday, the protests were confined to two neighborhoods, but shops across the city remained shuttered with traders fearing the riot could spread and prompt looting.

"Down with those printing the fake money!" the young men yelled. "Down with opportunists!"

One youthful protester, Abdinur Ileyke, said: "We will not allow them to trade while we are dying (of hunger) before their eyes."

On Tuesday, shop owners met and agreed to begin accepting the notes again, AP report said.

The U.N. food security unit warned last week that half Somalia's 7 million people face famine. It blamed an enduring drought and soaring food prices.

In Mogadishu, the price of corn meal has more than doubled since January and rice has risen from $26 to $47.50 for a 110-pound sack. Food costs also have been driven up by the plummeting Somali shilling, which tumbled from about 17,000 to 30,000 per $1.

Protests and riots over rising food prices also have hit other nations, including Haiti, Egypt, Cameroon and Burkina Faso. The price of rice and other staples has risen more than 40 percent since mid-2007.

Meanwhile, Islamist fighters said a U.S. airstrike overnight blasted a remote area of central Somalia hours after armed civilians met there. The U.S. military denied the claim.

Somalia has seen years of violence between militias of rival clan warlords and now Islamist fighters, who are prosecuting an insurgency with roadside bombs and occasional suicide attacks.

Ethiopia sent troops to Somalia in December 2006 expecting to remain only for weeks. They speedily drove out Islamist fighters — who had seized control of most of southern Somalia, including Mogadishu — but have since become bogged down in the country while supporting the U.N.-backed government.
 
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