From: Berhane Habtemariam (Berhane.Habtemariam@gmx.de)
Date: Tue Sep 02 2008 - 10:00:27 EDT
Dozens of Ethiopians killed in Somalia
Mon, 01 Sep 2008 11:04:27 GMT
Ethiopian troops on the march
Heavy explosions have rattled the Somali capital, Mogadishu, leaving dozens of Ethiopian troops dead and many others injured.
The blasts hit north Mogadishu's Towfikh district, which drew heavy gunfire from Ethiopian troops and anti-government fighters, killing dozens of Ethiopians, and injuring many others, Press TV correspondent in Somalia reported on Monday.
Eye witnesses say some 13 Ethiopian soldiers are still lying dead on the streets, while 14 other soldiers have been reported as missing.
Meanwhile in Suuq Baced area in northern Mogadishu, three other Ethiopian soldiers were killed by Bazooka rockets as the fighting continued.
Al-Shabaab spokesman Abdi Rahim Isse Addow told our correspondent that the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) is responsible for the attacks.
The streets of Mogadishu are the scene of daily clashes between opposition forces and Somali government forces, backed by Ethiopian troops.
Al Shabaab (meaning "youth") is the armed wing of the sharia courts movement that ruled most of southern Somalia until early 2007 when US-backed Ethiopian troops entered the country and installed a transitional government there.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi said on Thursday that Ethiopian troops were to leave Somalia and withdraw their support for the country's interim government.
Somalia has been plagued by almost uninterrupted civil unrest since the 1991 ouster of former president Mohamed Siad Barre.
Somali gov't vows to regain Kismayu
Tue, 02 Sep 2008 06:21:13 GMT
People voice anger over unrest in Mogadishu.
Government of Nur Hassan Hossein has vowed to take the Somali town of Kismayu back as soon as it gets vote of confidence from parliament.
The Somali government is deploying fresh troops to capture the port city of Kismayu in southern Somali from forces who view the government as Ethiopia's puppet, Press TV correspondent in Somalia reported on Monday.
The Somali government, which almost gained a vote of confidence Monday, seeks more Ethiopian support to prepare its military forces to defeat anti-government fighters.
The news comes as insurgents still attack government forces in the capital Mogadishu. At least seven Somali soldiers were killed in the latest Mogadishu clashes and dozens more were injured.
Somalia, a Horn of Africa nation, struggles to break free from years of internal violence that have brought hunger, insecurity and instability to millions across the country.
The country has been plagued by almost uninterrupted civil unrest since the 1991 ouster of former president Mohamed Siad Barre.
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