From: Berhane Habtemariam (Berhane.Habtemariam@gmx.de)
Date: Sun Sep 14 2008 - 14:48:37 EDT
9 killed in Ethiopian convoy attack
Sat, 13 Sep 2008 16:35:40 GMT
Ethiopian soldiers in Somalia
A convoy of 23 Ethiopian military vehicles has been attacked by Jabhad al-Islamiya fighters killing at least nine in Wanlaweyn, Somalia.
Directly afterwards, gunfire was exchanged between Ethiopian soldiers loyal to Somalia's Transitional Federal Government and the Jabhad al-Islamiya resistance group backed by the Union of the Islamic Courts (UIC).
At last report, more than three hours after the initial explosions, fighting was still going on in the worst incident of violence since Ethiopian representatives announced a day ago that they would not cease hostilities against Islamic elements in the region. The Ethiopian military convoy is purportedly part of this effort.
Press TV correspondent in the region reports witnesses seeing at least 13 large explosions (caused by landmines) near the front of the procession between the towns of Lego and Baidoa.
The UIC controlled most of southern Somalia and the vast majority of the population (most of whom are Muslims) until the end of 2006. It was then overthrown by the transitional government forces backed by neighboring Ethiopia and the US. Since that time, perpetual conflict has made the country the most unstable in the world.
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