‘Somalia attack shows that Turkey stepped on someone’s foot’: Parliament Speaker Çiçek

ANKARA - Anadolu Agency

Parliament Speaker Cemil Çiçek paid a visit to the wounded police officers at an Ankara hospital on July 30. AA photo

Parliament Speaker Cemil Çiçek paid a visit to the wounded police officers at an Ankara hospital on July 30, condemning the attack on a Turkish Embassy annex in the Somalian capital Mogadishu. Çiçek said the attack showed that Turkey’s humanitarian actions in the country “disturbed some circles.”

“We understand that we stepped on someone’s foot, because Turkey is becoming more and more effective in that region every other day. Turkey is trying to increase the living standards there through humanitarian projects and other ways and methods,” he told reporters.

 “One of our security guards was martyred there [at the embassy]. Four others were brought to this hospital by our government for their further treatment. We came to say ‘get well soon,’” Cicek said, adding that the wounded were recovering.

The Parliament speaker stressed that Turkey was performing humanitarian duties in Somalia. “Turkey is doing what is necessary for a friendly country. We know that there are some powers that are uncomfortable with Turkey’s facilities and efforts in that region. Unfortunately, they used terrorist organizations once again to block Turkey’s African openings,” Çiçek said.

One Turkish security guard was killed and several others were injured while two suicide bombers were killed, in a suicide attack on July 27 in front of the staff building of the Turkish Embassy in Mogadishu.