Somali Islamists clash with Ethiopian forces in southern Somalia

[Ahmed_Guree]

MOGADISHU (AFP) - Islamic fighters have clashed with Ethiopian forces near the seat of the Somali government, inflicting large numbers of casualties and destroying armoured vehicles.

 

The Islamists, who have vowed holy war against Ethiopian troops protecting Somalia's weak government, said they ambushed an Ethiopian convoy in Qasah Omane, a small village some 70 kilometres (45 miles) southwest of Baidoa, where both sides are girding for war.

 

As the Islamists claimed victory against the Ethiopians in the second attack in three days, witnesses reported fresh fighting at another outpost south of Baidoa, about 250 kilometres (155 miles) northwest of the capital.

 

"Our local Mujahedeens ambushed three armoured vehicles, they blew up one and two others were also lightly damaged," said Sheikh Mukhtar Robow, the deputy security chief for the Supreme Islamic Council of Somalia.

 

"I can also confirm that soldiers who were on board also suffered casualties," he told AFP in the Islamist-held Mogadishu on Tuesday.

 

"These operations will continue until we totally defeat the forces of the devil who are in our territories," Robow explained.

 

Witnesses also reported heavy fighting between the Islamists and Ethiopian forces in Adale, about 38 kilometres (24 miles) south of the Baidoa.

 

"We dont know the casualties but we can confirm you that fighting is raging," Osman Anteno, a resident, told AFP by phone.

 

Ethiopian officials were not immediately available for comment and the report could not be independently confirmed due to instability and poor communications in the area where the attack was said to have taken place.

 

The Islamists last month claimed to have drawn first blood in the jihad by attacking another Ethiopian convoy in the same area, killing two soldiers.

 

Ethiopia denies reports it has thousands of combat troops in Somalia but admits several hundred military advisers, trainers and support personnel have been sent to help the transitional government in Baidoa.

 

It has also made clear it will defend the internationally backed government and itself from attack by the Islamists, some of whom are accused of links with Al-Qaeda and have refused to attend peace talks until the Ethiopians withdraw

[Paragon]

Ciidamo Ethiopian ah oo lagu weeraray duleedka degmada Bardaale ee gobolka Bay.

Posted to the Web Nov 21, 07:56

 

 

Muqdisho:-Kolonyo ay leeyihiin ciidamada Tikreega ayaa lagu weeraray deegaanka Qansax Oomane ee degmada Bardaale,ayadoo halkaasi ciidamada Tikreega lagu gaarsiiyay khasaare lixaad leh kadib markii la gubay qaar ka mid ah gaadiidkii ay wateen ciidamadaasi oo ku soo jeeday magaalada Baydhabo.

 

 

Waa weerarkii 2aad oo muddo laba maalmood gudahood ah lagu qaado ciidamada Tikreega ee ku soo xadgudbay dhulka Soomaaliya,taasoo muujinaysa sida shacabka Soomaaliyeed meel kasto uu joogaba ay uga go’an tahay in uu la dagaalamo ciidamada gumeysiga.

 

 

Masuulka 2aad ee ugu sarreeya amniga iyo gaashaandhiga golaha maxkamadaha islaamiga Soomaaliyeed Sheekh Mukhtaar Roobow Cali Abu Mansuur ayaa u sheegay shabakada wararka Halgan in dadka deegaanka oo u adkeysan waayay dhibaatada ciidamada Tikreega ay ku hayaan ay weerareen shalay gelinkii danbe kolonyo ciidamada Tikreega ay wateen oo ku soo jeeday magaalada Baydhabo.

 

 

Abu Mansuur waxa uu intaa ku daray in dagaalkaasi uu socday qadar daqiiqado ah,waxa ayna natiijadu noqotay in ilaa 3 gaadiid laga gubay ciidamada Tikreega, halka dadka deegaanka aaney wax khasaaro ah ka soo gaarin dagaalkaasi.

 

 

Mar la weydiiyay cida u xaqiijisay dagaalkaasi lagu laayay ciidamada Tikreega waxa uu sheegay in isagu uu ka soo jeedo deegaanka lagu weeraray ciidamada Tikreega,waxa uunta tilmaamay in dad ay qaraabo yihiin oo halkaasi degan ay u xaqiijiyeen dagaalka lagu qaaday ciidamada Tikreega.

 

Abu Mansuur waxa uu sheegay in ciidamada cadawga lagu weerari doono taako kasto oo ka mid ah dhulka Soomaaliya,isagoo caddeeyay in mujaahidiintu ay u taagan yihiin wado kasto cadawga, waxa uuna ugu baaqay shacabka Soomaaliyeed meel kasto uu joogaba in ay dagaal kala hortagaan ciidamada Tikreega meel kasto ay ku arkaan.

 

C/qaadir Osman

Muqdisho

Halgan.net

[Paragon]

6 Ethiopian soldiers killed in the earlier ambush according to GEDONET

 

Nov 20,2006

by London-Gedo-NN

Islamic fighters ambushed an Ethiopian military convoy on Sunday, killing six soldiers and injuring 20 in the first known skirmish between the rival forces maneuvering for control in Somalia, witnesses said.

 

Two Ethiopian trucks were destroyed by land mines before Islamic fighters opened fire on the convoy of more than 80 vehicles, witnesses told The Associated Press. The convoy was headed for the town of Baidoa, 150 miles west of the capital Mogadishu, where the country's weak interim government is based.

 

Ethiopia backs the transitional government, whose authority has been severely challenged by an Islamic movement that has taken over the capital and much of southern Somalia since June.

 

The attack occurred near the town of Bardaleh, 50 miles southwest of Baidoa. Six Ethiopian soldiers were killed and 20 were injured according to a Somali fighter traveling in the convoy who asked not to be identified for fear of retribution