Mogadishu (Sunatimes) The forces of African Union Mission for Somalia (AMISOM) have denied accusations that they were involved in explosions that targeted residential areas of Mogadishu on Monday.

AMISOM force commander, Maj. Gen. Nathan Mugisha said his forces did not intentionally kill civilians.

Gen. Mugisha was responding to stories that were broadcasted by the local media blaming AMISOM for hitting residential houses with mortars. The reports claimed that several people were killed in the mortar strikes.

Stories carried out by some media outlets claimed that AMISOM forces bombed civilians near the former defense ministry building in Mogadishu where the pace keepers recently seized from Al-shabab militants.

Gen. Mugisha explained that the laws under which AMISOM was operating does not allow them to kill the civilians.  Mugisha said the forces were in Somali to protect civilians by providing them security.

Al-shabab militants and other groups accuse AMISOM for the civilian casualties caused by the ongoing violence in Mogadishu.

By Abdisalan Abdulle