Somalia happy just flying flag in Beijing

By Abdi Mohamed

MOGADISHU (Reuters) - For Somalis watching the Olympic Games opening ceremony on television in the bombed-out capital Mogadishu there was little thought of medals, just pride at seeing their team in Beijing at all.

Despite staggering disadvantages, the impoverished Horn of Africa nation has managed to send a small number of competitors to the last half-dozen Olympics. This year their team is 10-strong.

The country slid into anarchy after warlords overthrew a dictator in 1991. Now a new insurgency by Islamist rebels has killed more than 8,000 civilians since the start of last year.

"I was excited when I saw our blue flag being waved in the stadium," Nur Ahmad, a 52-year-old Mogadishu man, said.

"Even though we are in anarchy, for a few hours yesterday we were no different than developed countries like the United States, Spain, Germany or Canada," he said.

"It reminded me of our heyday before the civil war."

Elsewhere, there were brutal reminders of the plight of ordinary Somalis caught between the insurgents, the divided interim government and its Ethiopian military allies.

Abdukadir Abulahi and a group of friends in Afgoye, on the outskirts of the city, were captivated by the colorful scenes from China when a heavy battle broke out nearby.

"We were watching the opening carnival with great interest, but we switched it off when we heard the gunfire," Abulahi said.

At least seven people, including five civilians, died.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called on all warring parties to respect a traditional ceasefire during the Games.

Most Somalis who watched the ceremony viewed it on televisions in the relative safety of homes. In the past, groups gathering to watch movies or football matches at video halls have been targeted by grenade-throwing assailants.

GUNMEN OCCUPY STADIUM

Abdinasir Said Ibrahim, who will run in the 5,000 meters facing stiff competition against athletes from neighboring Kenya and Ethiopia, trained in rubble-strewn Mogadishu.

"The main stadium there is now a military base, so we trained on the highways and at the smaller Banadir stadium," the 19-year-old told Reuters by telephone from Beijing.