By Aweys Osman Yusuf

Mogadishu, 10 May 2007 - Mohammed Dheere, Mogadishu mayor, said Thursday that there was never a decree from his office or the government's over burning women's face veils.

Government soldiers have lately been burning women's face veils in the Somali capital Mogadishu.

In a press conference he held in the capital, Mr. Dheer said the veil burning operation was not the government's order. "We are not even aware of anything like that. We will take actions against soldiers violating people's rights," he said. "The government did not give the order to burn veils of women," he added.

Speaking of the explosions against government soldiers in the Somali capital, he blamed remnants of Islamic insurgents for being responsible. He said they are still active. "The Somali government soldiers seized a number of suspects believed to be behind the bomb explosions in the capital," he said.

He promise 5 million Somali shillings to be paid to anyone who reports to the government over the houses in which weapons and explosives are hidden, urging Mogadishu residents to assist the Somali interim institutions to restore security and calmness in gun-infested city.

Dheere indicated that soldiers have been ordered to destroy small shops and kiosks along the street sidewalks.

Source: SMN