Thursday, March 08, 2007

Ethiopian troops warn to shell residential area after meeting with Somalis

March.07 ( Sh.M.Network) Results have come out after senior Ethiopian military officials in Mogadishu and Somali civil society members and government officials have convened in the capital on Wednesday.

Deputy Mogadishu mayor, Ibrahim Shawiye, told Shabelle by phone last night that Ethiopians threatened they would shell residential neighborhoods in the capital if the unknown Somali gunmen used the neighborhood as their hideout and fired mortars at the Ethiopian bases.

He said the meeting was organized by Ethiopian officers and was attended by senior Somali government officials and civil society leaders.

Shawiye also indicated that the Ethiopians made clear they would remain in Somalia until it is peaceful and no threat comes to the Somali transitional federal government (TFG).

Insecurity alarmingly rages in the capital. At least 14 people were killed after the first contingent of AU forces and Somali insurgents clashed at KM4 junction at center of the capital on Wednesday evening. The convoy was attacked while patrolling the city.

Government deputy Defense Minister, Salad Ali Jelle, has told Shabelle by phone Thursday that Ugandan military convoy was attacked at KM4 Street, adding that the tires of their armored vehicles were punctured by bullets.

He said the government will seize the people who were responsible for the attacks.

Despite last night’s incident, two large cargo planes landed at Mogadishu airport this morning bringing a contingent of armed Ugandan troops and military equipments, Shabelle reporters outside the airport said.

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