Somali Prime Minister, Ali Mohammed Gedi, attended a ceremony held in the academy for the conclusion of the seminar, according to Gen. Abdi Qeybded, the commander of the Somali national police force.

The government spokesman, Abdi Hassan Goobdoon, said the new recruits will be provided with the police dress and operate in the capital Mogadishu where violence against foreign and Somali forces has become common.

A large number of government police are currently evident at the main roads of the Somali capital despite daily bomb attacks against them.

Meanwhile the prime minister escaped from an attempt to assassinate him after two men threw hand grenades at a convoy that was carrying Mr. Gedi.

Goobdoon told Shabelle that government soldiers in the area soon grabbed one of the suspects while the other one fled.

Tradesmen in Mogadishu's largest open-air bazaar voiced insecurity problems Thursday, appealing for the deployment of more AU troops in Bakara market where men wearing government army uniforms robbed two warehouses two days earlier.

They said it was important that Ugandan soldiers be stationed at the business areas near the market and safeguard the market itself.

Source: Shabelle Media Network