ADDIS ABABA, July 3 (Reuters) – Rebels in Ethiopia’s remote eastern Ogaden region on Tuesday said they had killed 43 government soldiers in an ambush on a military convoy.
The government declined to comment on the reported clash, which the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) rebels said took place near Shilaabo town on Monday.
There was no independent confirmation of the clash.
“The bodies of 43 TPLF regime troops were counted on the battlefield after the operation,” the ONLF said in a statement, referring to government soldiers. Five ONLF fighters died, it said.
“The surprise attack ambushed a convoy consisting of over 20 armed vehicles and trucks carrying fuel, armaments and troop reinforcements to TPLF regime forces based in Shilaabo and other parts of eastern Ogaden.”
Last month, Ethiopia’s dictator Meles Zenawi announced a crackdown on the ONLF, which drew global attention in April when it killed 74 people in a raid on a Chinese-run oil field.
The government says the ONLF, one of several guerrilla groups fighting Meles’ government from remote corners of the vast nation, are terrorists supported by arch-foe Eritrea.
The ONLF says it wants more autonomy for its underdeveloped region on the border with Somalia in the Horn of Africa. Last week, it accused the government of using warplanes to bomb three villages, killing about 40 people. The government denied it.
In its statement on Tuesday, the ONLF said it captured 35 government troops and a “wide range” of weapons and munitions.
It said “battlefield engagements” with government forces over the last three weeks have killed 247 government soldiers, but it was not possible to verify that independently. The rebels said 38 of their members had been killed in the same period.
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FORUM | 5 Comments
All I can say is destroy this bloodthirsty woyanne by any
means nessery.God bless ETHIOPIA forever and ever.
[Reply]
July 3rd, 2007 at 10:42 PM
keep it up ogaden libration front lets see the proef and all real ethiopian give u a hand .specially those agazis no chance if u captured them alive don’t histate to shoot them in the middle of their head no chance for weyanes
[Reply]
July 4th, 2007 at 6:52 AM
thumbs way up to ONLF!
[Reply]
July 4th, 2007 at 10:04 AM
The Murderous Nazi agazi forces deserve death and destruction. It is good news for the mothers and fathers whose childrem were mowed down by the nazi agazi under the direct command of the Nazi Meles Zenawi of the EPLF.
[Reply]
July 4th, 2007 at 2:28 PM
It is unbeliveable to see how hatred to the ruling party blinds ER(and others who share its view) to see the danger of ONLF, OLF.. to Ethiopia.
You were accusing the government of dismantling the country and now you are the one who actively supports those groups that have clear objective of dismantling the country. Your unreasonable hatred for the government blinds you to the point of contraditing yourself openly without even knowing it. It is so sad to see how your gifts and talents that could have been used for constructive purposes for Ethiopia and its people is now used for sawing discord and hatred. I don’t know how long it will take many of us to learn the importance of constructive opposition and contribute to the long-run benefits the country. Why are we always short-sighted and believe that removing the current government at any cost even replacing it with ONLF and OLF is better.
May God have mercy on us all.
[Reply]
July 5th, 2007 at 8:34 AM