N.O.R.F Posted April 17, 2007 Somalia: Ethiopian Troops Rebuff Withdrawing From the Areas They Seized in Mogadishu Shabelle Media Network (Mogadishu) April 16, 2007 Posted to the web April 16, 2007 Aweys Osman Yusuf Mogadishu The results of the meetings between the elders of Mogadishu's major ****** clan and the Ethiopian soldiers seem to be failing as Ethiopians rebuffed to withdraw from the areas they seized during the four day gun battle in the capital late last month. The spokesperson for ******, Ahmed Derie, has told Shabelle on Monday that the Ethiopian forces based in and around Yaqshid neighborhood in Mogadishu where they captured in gun fight with clan militia and insurgents. "The Ethiopians rejected to implement the resolutions made in our recent meetings with them. In order to let the people who fled the neighborhood to return to their homes peacefully, the Ethiopians were supposed to desert the areas they captured, but they turned down. We do not know what will happen next," he said. The Ethiopian troops are currently based in Mogadishu's biggest football stadium, the international airport and former government buildings in Wardhigley. They have also taken control of the main road in Hamar Bille leading to the presidential compound. Derie pointed out that the Ethiopians indicated they wanted to use the main road linking the stadium to Villa Somalia (The presidential palace) peacefully. "But they said they would withdraw from the residential areas in Hamar Bille neighborhood," Derie said. He did not rule out that there might be a peaceful dialog between ****** clan and the Ethiopians in the future. "Our side, we will attempt to seek for a peaceful solution to the standoff," he said. The clan leaders issued a statement in early April that Ethiopian troops should abandon all areas they occupied during the fight. Now that the decisions were declined, many suspect if this would spark fresh violence in the world's most dangerous city. Meanwhile, the clan leaders endorsed the postponement of the country's reconciliation conference which was due to be held on 16 April. Derie said the decisions, to postpone the conference, made by Ali Mahdi Mohammed, the chairman of the committee for the reconciliation conference, shows that there was violence and war in the capital. In a press conference he held in his home in north Mogadishu, Mr. Mahdi announced that the Somali reconciliation conference would be held on 14 July. "The reasons why we postponed the conference are to boost the peaceful effort continuing in the capital Mogadishu. We are firstly trying to give the efforts to stop the feuds in Mogadishu a chance," he said. Mahdi also pointed out that the financial resources for the conference have not entirely reached the transitional government based in the bullet-riddled capital. Mogadishu's powerful clan, ******, boycotted the conference in protest that president Yusuf was bringing more of his tribesmen into capital nominating them the government's top posts. The recent deadly clashes, in which more than 1,000 Somalis perished, according to local statistics, exacerbated the general situation in the Horn of Africa country. Mahdi indicated that the reconciliation would be held in the volatile city as announced by the Somali president early March. source Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
General Duke Posted April 17, 2007 I thought they lost? How can they be expected to move from areas you claimed they under the TFG did not capture? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RedSea Posted April 17, 2007 the Ethiopian troops can sieze all they want, they had high casualties, and were the ones crying for sieze fire. The TFG as always is the thing under the bottom of the Ethiopians, they dont' posses much power and would be dealt with in a week if Ethios aren't there to safe guard them. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tahliil Posted April 17, 2007 The headline alone hurts....Ethiopian troops rebuff...I was expecting the headline to read more of the lines..TFG troops rebuff withdrawing... Of all u know thou they could change their three letter clan code (TFG) now to Ethiopian army...it's free country u know....allow sahal amuuraha... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
General Duke Posted April 17, 2007 ^^^Obviosuly those who went to make a deal with soldeirs have egg on their face. As for the title, it should come as no suprise after all it was made by a well knwon secessionist. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gordon Gekko Posted April 17, 2007 lol GD I thought the ethio in the stadium had lost too. According to our sources here at SOL they were waving white flags and surrendering en masse. And now this. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tahliil Posted April 17, 2007 However bitter and painful this news maybe to u...there r ethiopian forces who r in Somali custody now...and most of the negatiations between Axmed diirye family and the Ethiopians (mind u not the TFG iyo AdeerKEEN) was mostly about securing a release deal for the captured generals besides other things of course.. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
General Duke Posted April 17, 2007 ^^^Of course it was, thus now they have released the Generals the fighting has started. What logic brother. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tahliil Posted April 17, 2007 GD..The condition of their release rested upon withdrawin their troops from prevously held positions...they said No Withdrawal...the Darwiishes said No deal simple as that. The Generals and may I add several stooges are still in undisclosed locations...in the hands of... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
