Somali Troops Fire on Hungry Refugees

Chaos and violence gripped the famine-stricken country of Somalia on Friday when government troops opened fire on civilians during a fight for food. Seven civilians were killed as both groups grabbed for handouts at a U.N. distribution site in the country’s capital. Witnesses of the bloodshed said soldiers tried to steal some 290 tons of rations being doled out at a famine refugee camp. When refugees started pushing their way through to the food, soldiers reportedly opened fire. “It was carnage,” said a man living at the camp. “Even dead bodies were left on the ground and other wounded bled to death.”