New Clashes in Muqdisho As Zenawi Says No Withdrawal

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Somalia offensive after attacks

 

The Ethiopians are not popular in Somalia

Ethiopian-backed Somali government forces have launched an offensive against insurgents after simultaneous attacks in the capital, Mogadishu.

At least six Ethiopian bases in the city were targeted on Tuesday night by Islamists . Three civilians have died.

 

Correspondents say rocket-propelled grenades, hand grenades and machine guns were used in the attacks.

 

The attacks came after Ethiopia's prime minister said his forces are unable to withdraw from the conflict in Somalia.

 

Meles Zenawi said he had expected to withdraw his soldiers earlier in the year, once the Islamists had been driven out of Mogadishu.

 

But he said not enough peacekeepers had arrived and divisions within the Somali government had left it unable to replace the Ethiopians.

 

Their presence is unpopular in Mogadishu. Earlier this month, insurgents dragged the bodies of Ethiopian troops through the city.

 

Hunt

 

The BBC's Mohammed Olad Hassan in Mogadishu says Ethiopian lorries and tanks can be seen patrolling the streets.

 

Those civilians that have not fled the city are remaining indoors, he says.

 

The attacks took place simultaneously at about 1930 local time on Tuesday night.

 

At least six Ethiopian army bases came under fire:

 

In the north of the city at two former factories and at Ex-Control intersection

In the south of the city at the football stadium and an army camp

In the central Bakara market district where there are bases along the main road.

About three civilian bodies have been found on Wednesday morning around one of former factories.

 

 

Some 600,000 people have left Mogadishu this year

 

The dead civilians are said to have been on a bus that was caught in retaliatory fire from Ethiopian troops.

 

Mogadishu city council spokesman Mohamed Muhyadin has told the BBC there was another attack at midnight.

 

Militias in Somali army uniforms attacked a building housing government soldiers near Mogadishu International Airport.

 

One soldier was killed in the attack, he said. The number of Ethiopian casualities are not known.

 

Correspondents say troops have been sent to the area near the airport to hunt down the insurgents.

 

'Encouraged'

 

The UN refugee agency says 60% of Mogadishu residents have left their homes, including 200,000 this month, following the latest clashes between insurgents and the Ethiopian-backed government.

 

Our correspondent says the insurgents say they have been encouraged by the admission by Mr Meles that his forces were becoming bogged down in Somalia.

 

On an Islamist website, the insurgents said they were winning the struggle, and called for further attacks on the Ethiopian forces.

 

Only 1,600 Ugandan peacekeepers have arrived, from a planned 8,000-strong African Union force.

 

Somalia has not had a functioning national government since President Mohamed Siad Barre was overthrown in 1991.

 

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7116702.stm

 

 

Iska hor’maad xoogan oo ka dhacay qeybo katirsan Muqdisho iyo Dhawaqa Madaafiic culus oo la maqlaayo

 

 

Muqdisho Khamiis , November 29 2007 SMC

 

Iska hor’imaadkani xoogan oo u dhaxeeya ciidamada Itoobiya iyo kooxo hubeysan oo iyagu ka horjeeda baaritaano ay Ciidamadu ay ka sameeynayeen qeybo badan oo ka tirsan xaafadaha ku dhirirsan Wadda dheer ee warshadaha ayaa waxaa dhacay deegaanadaasa ay howlgalada ka soconayeen.

 

Xaafadaha ay sida gaarka uga socdeen baaritaanada ayaa waxaa ka mid ah Jungal,mahad Alla,suuqa xoolaha oo gabi ahaantootba ka tirsan Dagmada Yaaqshiid ee magaalada muqdisho.

 

Meelaha ugu daran ee uu iska hor’imaad uu ka dhacay ayaa ah Deegaanka Suuqa xoolaha iyadoo madaafiic ka dhaceysay qoriga kaaraha ay ku habsadeen xaafadaha deegaankaasi oo dadkii ugu badnaa ay carareen aroortii hore ee saakay iyaga opo ka baqanaya in ay wax yeelo ka soogtay dagaaladaasi iyo rasaasta xoogan ee ka dhaceysay deeganadaas.

 

Dhinaca kale waxaa la maqlaayaa madaafiic culus, iyadoo dadka ay ka fogaanayaan goobaha ay dirirtu ka socoto, waxeyna ciidamadu soo buuxiyeen deeganadaas, iyadoo aysan weli ka hadlin Dowladda Federaalka Soomaaliya Arrimaha dagaalkaas.

 

http://www.somaliweyn.com/pages/news/Nov_07/29Nov15.html