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Anti UN Approval Draft Resolution Demo in Mogadishu, As Fresh Fighting Erupts

Shabelle Media Network (Mogadishu)
NEWS
December 8, 2006
Posted to the web December 8, 2006

By Hassan Kalkata
Mogadishu
The powerful Islamic courts union controlling in many parts of Southern Somalia
including the capital city Mogadishu has organized a huge demonstration at
Konis Stadium, one of the main soccer playgrounds in Mogadshu after Friday
prayers to condemn the endorsement made by the United Nations Security Council
to consider authorizing Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (Igad) and
other African Union countries to deploy troops to Somalia.
The demonstrators who gathered at Konis stadium holing banners showing anti
American and Ethiopian statements were also shouting anti American and anti
Ethiopian slogans. Down US, down UN and down Ethiopia, people were shouting
The demonstrators were in their thousands came from the various districts in
Mogadishu listened speeches from the ICU senior officials at the gathering.
Sheik sharif sheik Ahmed the IUC executive chairman who addressed the
demonstrators told that they would defend the country from the enemies who are
advancing into Somali soil.
The Islamic courts have strongly opposed the UN approval draft resolution,
which lets regional peacekeepers from IGAD.
All Somalis must prepare in Jihad or holy war against any foreign troops who
sets foot on Somali soil, we see this UN endorsement as aggressive act and we
will not hesitate to resist them Shiek Sharif told in the gathering.
During the rally, special unit of Islamic fighters showed a military exercise
on the Stadium field showing that they are well trained and can resist any
attacking troops in Somalia.
There have been schoolboys wearing their School uniform carrying AK47 rifles on
a pick up cars roaming through the stadium as a maneuver.
There have been also veiled women carrying AK-47 rifles standing at separate
location far from the men inside the stadium showing their readiness to
confront with the enemy.
Fresh fighting in Dinsor town
Meanwhile a fierce fighting between the government forces backed by the
Ethiopian troops and the Islamic courts fighters erupted in Diinsor 130 km from
Baidoa town, the base of the transitional government.
The officials from both sides have confirmed that fighting, but there are no
independent sources of casualties.
Witnesses confirm that fighting occurred in Safar Noolay, 30 km southwest of
Baidoa, they said they could hear the sounds of explosions and guns exchange
fire.
Shiek Ibrahim Shukri, the ICU spokesman for Jubba regions told Radio Shabelle
that they have captured four battle wagons from interim government soldiers,
but there has been no word from the government side .
There is no exact reports from Dinsor as all the telecommunications cut off .


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