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Somalia: Insurgents Force Ethiopian Soldiers to Vacate Army Base
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Garowe Online (Garowe)
19 March 2008
Posted to the web 20 March 2008
Garowe
Heavy fighting erupted in the Somali capital early Wednesday morning after Islamist rebels attacked an Ethiopian army base in northern Mogadishu, our correspondent reported.
At least six people - three Ethiopian soldiers and three insurgents - have been confirmed dead during the battle, which lasted for nearly five hours, according to witnesses.
More than 10 civilians were wounded during the onslaught. Locals who live in and around Mogadishu's livestock market in Huriwa district said they could not leave their homes during the battle.
Ethiopian troops stationed at the Maslah army camp spread into the livestock market and were reportedly moving equipment and other military materials to the ex-pasta factory when they came under gunfire.
The fighting started off slowly, but gradually strengthened as more insurgents joined the battle and Ethiopian soldiers left their barracks at the former pasta factory base to reinforce troops at Maslah.
The Ethiopian army used tanks against insurgents who used mortars and rockets during the battle. Several shells hit neighborhoods but casualties could not be confirmed yet.
Military sources in Mogadishu tell Garowe Online that the Ethiopian troops stationed at the Maslah camp were being relocated to the pasta factory, citing logistical difficulties that impacted the supply route.
The latest reports indicate that Islamist gunmen had successfully captured Maslah camp after the Ethiopian troops withdrew towards the ex-pasta factory.
A bloody insurgency has gripped Mogadishu since January 2007 when Ethiopian troops helped install the UN-backed Transitional Federal Government in the Somali capital.
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Thousands of people have been killed and more than half a million civilians displaced from their homes in Mogadishu since, according to human rights groups.
The position of the UN in the Somalian crisis does not seem clear from the point of view of the Ethiopian occupational force. Is the UN backing Ethiopia with respect to Ethiopia's occupation of Somalia? If not and one hopes this is the position, then why does UN not expess its disgust at this despicable action of Ethiopia that has resulted in the death of thousands of innocent Somalian citizens and the displacement of over half a million Somalians. Futhermore, what exactly is the purpose of the supposed other UN peacekeeping forces from Uganda, Nigeria etc. in... [Read Full Text]
The Ethiopian army went into somalia with the request of the UN-backed Transitional Somali Government and all what they are trying to do is to bring peace and stability to that war torn country. Had it not been to the aggressive, abusive gesture of the hardline isalmists would would not be where we are now. The islamists used to control part of Somali. By then there wa
The Ethiopian army went into somalia with the request of the UN-backed Transitional Somali Government and all what they are trying to do is to bring peace and stability to that war torn country. Had it not been to the aggressive, abusive gesture of the hardline isalmists would would not be where we are now. The islamists used to control part of Somali. By then there wa
The Ethiopian army went into somalia with the request of the UN-backed Transitional Somali Government and all what they are trying to do is to bring peace and stability to that war-torn country. The men and women of the Ethiopian defence forces are bravely confronting the devisive and destructive hardline forces (The Islamists). The Ethiopians are sacrifying their life to help the brotherly people of Somalia. Of course, for the Islamists and their supporters this is a bitter pill. After all, we would not be where we are now had it not been for the aggressive and abusive strategy of... [Read Full Text]
Ethiopia has set up an illegitimate government of warlords, who want to impose their rule on an unwilling populace. This Transitional government is undemocratic, and is deeply unpopular in Somalia. This government was never voted for, never represented the will of the Somali people, but rather the will of their Ethiopian masters who control their every move from Addis Ababa. The Ethiopians subsequently invaded Somalia in order to prop up the illegitimate government, which has no support in Somalia. The result of the Ethiopian occupation of Somalia has been the death of thousands of civilians, and the displacement of more... [Read Full Text]
Ethiopia has set up an illegitimate government of warlords, who want to impose their rule on an unwilling populace. This Transitional government is undemocratic, and is deeply unpopular in Somalia. This government was never voted for, never represented the will of the Somali people, but rather the will of their Ethiopian masters who control their every move from Addis Ababa. The Ethiopians subsequently invaded Somalia in order to prop up the illegitimate government, which has no support in Somalia. The result of the Ethiopian occupation of Somalia has been the death of thousands of civilians, and the displacement of more... [Read Full Text]
Ethiopia has set up an illegitimate government of warlords, who want to impose their rule on an unwilling populace. This Transitional government is undemocratic, and is deeply unpopular in Somalia. This government was never voted for, never represented the will of the Somali people, but rather the will of their Ethiopian masters who control their every move from Addis Ababa. The Ethiopians subsequently invaded Somalia in order to prop up the illegitimate government, which has no support in Somalia. The result of the Ethiopian occupation of Somalia has been the death of thousands of civilians, and the displacement of more... [Read Full Text]
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