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UPDATE 3-Somalia declares state of emergency, calls for help

Sat Jun 20, 2009 6:27pm GMT
 

* Speaker says presidential palace under threat

* Says Somalia needs troops from neighbours within 24 hours

* Al Shaabab insurgents warn Kenya against intervention

(Adds Ethiopian denial)

By Abdi Guled and Mohamed Ahmed

MOGADISHU, June 20 (Reuters) - Somalia's cabinet declared a state of emergency on Saturday and the parliament speaker asked neighbouring countries to send troops to help the government within the next 24 hours as fighting intensified in the capital.

Two legislators have been killed in the last two days in worsening violence between government forces and hardline Islamists trying to oust the Horn of Africa nation's leadership.

Al Shaabab insurgents stepped up an offensive against Somalia's government last month and on Thursday killed the country's security minister and at least 30 other people in a suicide car bomb attack. [ID:nLI450352]

They also killed an MP in northern Mogadishu on Friday.  Continued...

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