Police deny losing control of Bakara market

The Mogadishu police have denied that they have lost control of Mogadishu's main Bakara market, a senior police officer told IRIN on Thursday. The Mogadishu police chief, Abdi Hasan Awale Qeybdid, said the police had "a little hiccup last week, but things are back to normal". He admitted that a police post near Bakara market in south Mogadishu had come under attack last week by bandits who used to operate in the area before they were ejected by the police. Two civilians were killed in that incident, with no police casualties, he said. "We had to temporarily withdrew from that post, but the police are back and have been there for the last few days" he added. Reacting to local and international media reports that the police were weakening in their operations to fight crime, which started in September, Qeybdid said: "There is no turning back. The police will continue their operations to bring law and order back to this city." He said the police were present at every entry and exit point of the market, and were even more determined than they had been when they started to "fight and defeat criminals". In another development, the police anti-narcotics unit seized close to 850 kg of cannabis in Mogadishu in the last few days, the unit's commander told IRIN. Col Amin Sayyid Ahmad Haji Yusuf said at least 10 people had been arrested following the seizure of the drugs, and were awaiting trial. Amin said some of the drugs coming into Mogadishu were consumed locally, but the bulk was for export.