(AP) Two large blasts aimed at a convoy of Ethiopian Woyanne troops heading toward the capital prompted soldiers to open fire on Monday. At least two Somalis were shot to death, witnesses said.
The explosions south of Mogadishu could be heard a kilometre away, and “shook all the buildings nearby”, resident Mohamed Ahmed said.
It was not immediately clear whether any Ethiopian Woyanne troops died in the blast, but two Somalis were shot dead and several others wounded when the troops fired on passers-by following the attack, witnesses said.
Government and Ethiopian Woyanne officials did not immediately comment.
“I have seen two dead Somali bodies on the road; they were killed by Ethiopian soldiers,” resident Batulo Ali said by telephone from Wanlaweyn district in the southern Lower Shabelle region, about 90km from Mogadishu.
A local farmer, Mayow Ali, said Ethiopian troops sealed off the area immediately after the attack and prevented Somalis from leaving their houses.
The impoverished Horn of Africa nation is in the grip of a conflict between Islamic insurgents and the shaky transitional government and its Ethiopian Woyanne allies. Thousands of Somalis have died in the fighting since December, when the Islamic alliance was ousted from Mogadishu and southern Somalia by Ethiopian soldiers supporting the government.
FORUM | 2 Comments
more will come
[Reply]
November 5th, 2007 at 11:32 AM
It is good to hear Woyannies are dying slowly and surely. It is the best moment for Ethiopians now while Woyannie is trapped by many projects, war here and war there.
[Reply]
November 6th, 2007 at 1:46 AM