Rebels in Somalia Take State Radio Station, Palace

Rebels fighting to overthrow the authoritarian 21-year rule of Somali leader Mohamed Siad Barre announced an offensive breakthrough in the bloody month-old conflict Sunday, saying they had captured the state radio station and presidential palace in Mogadishu, capital of the East African country.

As Siad Barre’s dwindling forces were reportedly driven from the city by a fierce rebel assault, the insurgent Somali National Congress jubilantly claimed that the government had been overthrown.

A congress spokesman said on Radio Mogadishu: “Last night . . . the government and responsibility of the Somali people were taken over by the (rebel) movement. We are addressing you from Radio Mogadishu, the voice of the Somali people.”