France condemns bomb attack in Somalia

The French government on Monday condemned the bomb attack that killed 18 people in the Somali capital, Mogadishu on Saturday. "France reaffirms its support for the Somali authorities and people in their efforts to build a calmed society, which would be democratic and respect diversity and human rights," a Foreign Ministry statement said. "France condemns the bomb attack perpetrated on September 7," it noted. France said that it would continue to support the reconstruction of Somalia and would be an active participant, with its European partners, at the international conference on Somali which is scheduled to take place in Brussels on September 16. This conference "will be a major step for the commitment of the European Union and the entire international community in favour of this country," the French statement said.