Roald B. Larsen
2008-12-07 00:16:16 UTC
15 Somali Civilians Killed by Ethiopian Occupation Forces Shelling of a
Mogadishu Market
Somalia: Ethiopian Army Shelling Kills 15 Civilians in Mogadishu
Garowe, 5 December 2008
Ethiopian occupation troops in Somalia's capital Mogadishu responded with
heavy firepower after an alleged attack on army positions by Somali
resistance fighters on Friday, Radio Garowe reported.
At least 15 civilians were killed and 20 others wounded at Mogadishu's main
livestock market where "many shells" hit, according to witnesses.
"I saw five dead women at the market," said a witness who did not want his
name in print.
The Ethiopian occupation army shells were preceded by a guerrilla attack
staged by Somali resistance fighters, but locals said the actual fighting
lasted for brief minutes.
The Ethiopia occupation army did not speak publicly about Friday's shelling
of civilian areas. The Ethiopian occupation army has been accused of
committing war crimes since invading Somalia two years ago.
The shelling comes on the heels of a controversial ceasefire agreement
between the Somali interim government and an Somali opposition, although
that ceasefire has been violated repeatedly by both sides of the conflict.
Somalia was plunged into chaos in 1991 when the country's last effective
ruler, Gen. Siad Barre, was forced to flee Mogadishu by clan warlords.
The warlords divided Somalia into clan-based fiefdoms until Islamists rose
to power in mid-2006, chasing away Mogadishu's destructive warlords.
Ethiopian-backed Somali government troops have been battling a Somali
resistance movement for the past two years, with a local human rights group
estimating that nearly 10,000 people have been killed so far.
Witnesses: Somalia fighting kills 12, wounds 20
MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP, World News) -
December 6, 2008
Witnesses say mortar shells have rained down on homes and a small market in
Somalia's capital, killing 12 people and wounding 20.
Local resident Abdi Wali says Friday's fighting started after an attack by
Somali resistance fighters on an Ethiopian occupation forces military base.
He says he saw 12 corpses after shells landed on the market and a
residential area.
A doctor at Daynile Hospital says about 20 wounded people, including women
and children, have been admitted there.
Somalia has been without an effective government since 1991, when warlords
overthrew a dictatorship and then turned on one another.
The transitional government, formed in 2004, relies on Ethiopian occupation
troops for protection, but Somali resistance fighters have gained steady
power and launch near-daily attacks.
Mogadishu Market
Somalia: Ethiopian Army Shelling Kills 15 Civilians in Mogadishu
Garowe, 5 December 2008
Ethiopian occupation troops in Somalia's capital Mogadishu responded with
heavy firepower after an alleged attack on army positions by Somali
resistance fighters on Friday, Radio Garowe reported.
At least 15 civilians were killed and 20 others wounded at Mogadishu's main
livestock market where "many shells" hit, according to witnesses.
"I saw five dead women at the market," said a witness who did not want his
name in print.
The Ethiopian occupation army shells were preceded by a guerrilla attack
staged by Somali resistance fighters, but locals said the actual fighting
lasted for brief minutes.
The Ethiopia occupation army did not speak publicly about Friday's shelling
of civilian areas. The Ethiopian occupation army has been accused of
committing war crimes since invading Somalia two years ago.
The shelling comes on the heels of a controversial ceasefire agreement
between the Somali interim government and an Somali opposition, although
that ceasefire has been violated repeatedly by both sides of the conflict.
Somalia was plunged into chaos in 1991 when the country's last effective
ruler, Gen. Siad Barre, was forced to flee Mogadishu by clan warlords.
The warlords divided Somalia into clan-based fiefdoms until Islamists rose
to power in mid-2006, chasing away Mogadishu's destructive warlords.
Ethiopian-backed Somali government troops have been battling a Somali
resistance movement for the past two years, with a local human rights group
estimating that nearly 10,000 people have been killed so far.
Witnesses: Somalia fighting kills 12, wounds 20
MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP, World News) -
December 6, 2008
Witnesses say mortar shells have rained down on homes and a small market in
Somalia's capital, killing 12 people and wounding 20.
Local resident Abdi Wali says Friday's fighting started after an attack by
Somali resistance fighters on an Ethiopian occupation forces military base.
He says he saw 12 corpses after shells landed on the market and a
residential area.
A doctor at Daynile Hospital says about 20 wounded people, including women
and children, have been admitted there.
Somalia has been without an effective government since 1991, when warlords
overthrew a dictatorship and then turned on one another.
The transitional government, formed in 2004, relies on Ethiopian occupation
troops for protection, but Somali resistance fighters have gained steady
power and launch near-daily attacks.