In initial reports, senior Somali military and police officials said a foreigner approached government soldiers near the Villa Somalia presidential palace in Mogadishu early Wednesday, identifying himself as one of the French men abducted by gunmen at the Sahafi Hotel last month.

VOA: standard.2009.08.26

Weeks ago, militants exploded a car bomb near the presidential palace and before that they struck a beachside restaurant.

WSJ: A Somali Business Plan Like No Other

On Friday police and protesters clashed near the presidential palace, after a week of violence in which dozens died.

BBC: Tahrir Square activists confront Egypt PM Hisham Qandil

The US has urged Egypt to investigate cases of police abuse after a man was stripped and beaten by uniformed officers near the presidential palace.

BBC: Cairo police beating: US urges Egypt to control police