WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement Monday after bombings in Mogadishu, Somalia left hundreds dead and hundreds more wounded over the weekend:

“I condemn in the strongest possible terms this weekend’s deadly bombings in Mogadishu. My thoughts and prayers are with the loved ones of those killed and injured.

“This indiscriminate, heinous attack on innocent people is meant to undermine the efforts of the new government, and to undo years of progress toward rebuilding Somalia. Such acts cannot and will not be allowed to stand in the way of progress. I stand firmly by the people of Somalia, and fully support continued U.S. partnership with and assistance to the country and its citizens in their fight against terrorism, and their efforts to rebuild the institutions of Somalia.”