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Ethiopian Armored Vehicles And Helicopters Take Part in the War

Shabelle Media Network (Mogadishu)
NEWS
December 22, 2006
Posted to the web December 22, 2006

By Aweys Osman Yusuf
Mogadishu
Clashes between the Islamic Courts troops and the Ethiopian backed government
forces has intensified for the fourth day as both sides struck each other with
artillery and propel grenades.
Fresh Ethiopian armored vehicles, tanks and helicopters were seen heading to
the battle forefront. Earlier the Ethiopian government denied its military
forces in Baidoa were involved in Somalia's war.
The transitional government assistant defense minister Salad Ali Jelle said,
"We have lost six of our soldiers to today's war and we have killed tens of
Islamists."
Witnesses said they saw dead bodies lying around Moodemoode, where the worst
fighting took place on Thursday.
The Islamic Courts Union spokesperson for Jubba provinces, southern Somalia,
Sheik Ibrahim Shukri Abu Zainab, said in a press conference that the
international community is now able to pressurize Ethiopia get out of Somalia.
"We will defeat the Ethiopian troops in the country and when we cross into the
Ethiopian border, the world's reaction will be unnecessary then," he said.
More than 100 persons are feared dead in the war between Islamists and
Ethiopian supported government forces. Thousands of people fled their homes as
both warring parties exchanged mortar shells and small fire. Many civilians hit
by crossfire were brought in Baidoa hospitals, witnesses said.
As both sides claim victory, number of casualties of the two rival fighting
groups is reportedly high. Islamists, who drove a number of journalists from
the capital Mogadishu to the vicinity of the battle, said they were going to
present to the world that their fighters killed hundreds of Ethiopians in the
duels around Idaale and Moodemoode, some 40 km (27 miles) southeast of Baidoa,
the government administered town.
Analysts fear the war will suck in rival arch-foes, Ethiopia and Eritrea that
were accused of having military troops in Somalia. Ethiopia said it had several
hundred military trainers and advisors in the government base of Baidoa, while
Eritrea entirely denied it was involved in Somalia's internal conflicts.
Ethiopia says it is concerned Islamic Courts will undermine the internationally
recognized government and set up an Islamic republic in the war ravaged
country.
Somalia has had no affective central government since 1991 when warlords
toppled former president Siad Barre.


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