Kenyan government blames al-Shabaab for grenade attacks

April 02, 2012

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Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Internal Security Minister George Saitoti blamed al-Shabaab on Sunday (April 1st) for Saturday's two attacks targeting a church and a restaurant in the Mombasa area, Kenya's Capital FM News reported.

"We shall not relax until we root out al-Shabaab militia out of Kenya, and their sympathisers," Saitoti said.

The two leaders spoke while visiting the blast site at a Mtwapa church. One person died and 18 were injured in the blasts that struck Mtwapa and Mombasa.

"Our resolve to ensure safety prevails here forced us last year to send our security forces to Somalia to hunt and rid this country of terrorists that threaten our peace," Odinga said.

Odinga and Saitoti also visited the wounded in hospital. Coast Provincial Director of Medical Service Anisa Baghazal said the hospital received 14 victims, five of which remain in critical condition, but out of danger.

Also on Sunday, al-Shabaab warned Kenya of "retribution" without explicitly taking responsibility for Saturday's attacks, AFP reported.

Last month, the Kenyan government blamed al-Shabaab for attacks on a bus station in Nairobi that left nine dead and more than 60 wounded. Al-Shabaab denied responsibility, but threatened to carry out attacks on a much larger scale if Nairobi kept its troops in Somalia.

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