Castro Posted June 23, 2007 Mogadishu is put under a curfew as fighting persists in capital, key port city By MAHAD ELMI McClatchy-Tribune MOGADISHU, SOMALIA — The interim Somali government's hold on power appeared to slip Friday as fighting erupted in the port city of Kismayo between clan militias that had made up the government's armed forces. Residents reported at least seven dead and six wounded. Meanwhile, local authorities announced a dusk-to-dawn curfew starting Friday in Mogadishu, 300 miles north of Kismayo, amid continuing bomb blasts and door-to-door house searches by heavily armed Ethiopian forces backing the interim government. It was the first such curfew in the Somali capital since the Council of Islamic Courts, an Islamist government that U.S. officials had accused of giving sanctuary to al-Qaida fugitives, was overthrown in December. Even after the curfew began, seven large explosions shook the capital. It was unclear whether insurgents or security forces had detonated them. One roadside bomb struck a Somali police truck Friday, killing four officers and three civilians, among them a 10-year-old boy, authorities said. Bombs — improvised explosive devices similar to those used against U.S. forces in Iraq — have become routine in Mogadishu in the past months, exploding two to three times a day. Most have missed their targets, but Friday's hit showed that the insurgents have improved their mastery of the technique. Government officials blame remnants of the Islamic Courts movement for the increasing violence in the capital. In Kismayo, a fragile cease-fire between militias loyal to the Mareehan and ******ten sub-clans collapsed Thursday and the fighting broke out Friday. The two sides have been vying for control of Kismayo since April. The renewed conflict reflects the strategic importance of the port city. Houston Chronicle Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Castro Posted June 23, 2007 Seven Killed in Fighting Among Somali Soldiers By Stephanie McCrummen Washington Post Foreign Service Saturday, June 23, 2007; A14 NAIROBI, June 22 -- In another sign of trouble for Somalia's transitional government, fighting erupted Friday among hundreds of government soldiers belonging to two rival sub-clans. Seven people were killed in the brief but heavy battle near the southern coastal city of Kismaayo, home to a lucrative port and fertile farmland that the *********, the sub-clan of Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf, and the *******, their historical enemies, would both like to control. Tensions between the two groups have been building for weeks, and mortar and antiaircraft fire broke out Friday morning. The rival soldiers, who numbered at least 800 and were joined by their respective sub-clan militias, commandeered heavy weapons and shelled each other for an hour along a road through a vacant, muddy swath of land, according to Kismaayo residents and Abdirisak Farah, a ******* commander. Then, still in their Somali army uniforms, they retreated. Yusuf's Ethiopian-backed government, which ousted an Islamic movement from power in January, has been accused by rival clans of putting the interests of Yusuf's clan and sub-clan above the cause of national unity and reconciliation. That perception, along with the continued presence of Ethiopian troops Somalis widely view as occupiers, has deepened the clan divisions evident in Friday's fighting. In Mogadishu, Somalia's capital, insurgent attacks against Ethiopian troops and Somali government officials have become almost routine. Yusuf and his Ethiopian backers have responded to the growing insurgency, composed of disgruntled clan militias and fighters loyal to the Islamic movement, with brute force. The latest crackdown began two weeks ago, as Ethiopian troops began arresting dozens and perhaps hundreds of Mogadishu businessmen suspected of supporting the opposition and conducting house-to-house searches for weapons. On Friday, Ethiopian troops accompanied by intelligence officials raided the offices of Hormud, the largest telecommunications company in Somalia, witnesses and a company official said. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said he believed that the raid was aimed at gathering phone records, which Hormud had refused to hand over. Ethiopian troops also busted open safes and locked drawers and absconded with thousands of dollars, he said. Washington Post Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rudy-Diiriye Posted June 23, 2007 he wants phone records... for what? so he can call u for donations! loool. greedy sob. some one should have told him that ppl screen your calls out and wont pick up the phone.. jaahil. just kidding, i know hes tryna keep tab on pple... u know paranoia leads to self destruction. on expected side, things r rolling againt the tigre federal govt. every 1 knows damn well u cant subjugate nomads, its against their nature. thats why u hear about more uprising and conflict flares increasing dramatically. yo, this ppl will not take it. they will fight. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Som@li Posted June 23, 2007 Police has the right to access Call records from Telecom providers, like any other country, to investigate criminal activities! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Miskiin-Macruuf-Aqiyaar Posted June 24, 2007 On Friday, Ethiopian troops accompanied by intelligence officials raided the offices of Hormud, the largest telecommunications company in Somalia, witnesses and a company official said. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said he believed that the raid was aimed at gathering phone records, which Hormud had refused to hand over. Ethiopian troops also busted open safes and locked drawers and absconded with thousands of dollars , he said. Tuugo Xabasho ah maalin Eebbe keeno hanti dadoow dhacaayo. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rudy-Diiriye Posted June 24, 2007 come again miskiin! u seem to be speaking the phorah language... can u translate that into somali... baleez Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Miskiin-Macruuf-Aqiyaar Posted June 25, 2007 Originally posted by rudy: come again miskiin! u seem to be speaking the phorah language... can u translate that into somali... baleez Shur, waay noot. Kooy wal kiin sheegee, hooba dheegta doogeyga adi goroda doonta. Kastee, widaayoow, mise in kiiga noqo fadaasee? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
