Ethiopian forces return to man roadblocks in Somalia
ETHIOPIAN forces, who pulled out of Somalia in January, yester day crossed into their war-torn neighbour after Islamist rebels launched an onslaught to topple its fledgling government, witnesses said.
Troops in dozens of armoured vehicles set up roadblocks in Kalabeyrka, near Beledweyne, a town some 300km north of the capital Mogadishu, they said.
“Ethiopian forces have been checking vehicles in the Kalabeyrka area. They were asking people where they came from but they were not arresting anybody,” said a truck driver.
Another witness said: “I have seen Ethiopian forces manning checkpoints in Kalabeyrka. They were many and there were also armoured vehicles including big trucks mounted with anti-aircraft weapons.” Fierce clashes between hardline Islamist insurgents and government troops erupted earlier this month and in two days this week the rebels have seized two key towns north of Mogadishu, sparking fears they would advance to Beledweyne.
On Monday, Ethiopian Communications Minister Bereket Simon ruled out redeploying to Somalia.
“We are not contemplating going back there for the moment,” he said. “For the moment there is no immediate danger to Ethiopia.”
The rebel onslaught has been led by the Shebab, a hardline faction accused of links to al-Qaeda, and Hezb al-Islam, a more political radical group loyal to senior opposition leader Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys.
The fighting that kicked off on May 7 has killed at least 110 people and displaced some 30000, mainly in Mogadishu.
The Horn of African country has lacked a central authority since the 1991 ouster of President Mohamed Siad Barre sparked violence.
- By Sapa | AFP