Ethiopia>>>Somali Woman accuses Ethiopian soldiers of rape and torture

Aweys Osman Yusuf
Mogadishu 13, March.07 ( Sh.M.Network) A Somali woman has today revealed at a press conference in Mogadishu that she was tortured and raped by Ethiopian soldiers.

Suuban Maalin, a Somali mother of eight children, claiming to have been raped by Ethiopian forces sits on mat inside her house. The presence of Ethiopian forces in Somalia creates resent in Somalia

Suuban Maalin Ali Hassan, 37 year old mother of eight children talked to journalists with presence of her husband inside her house over the ordeal she faced last Saturday as she was on her way near Elirfid, north east of Mogadishu.

“Last Saturday, as I was driving my donkey-cart loaded with grass near Elirfid settlement, two Ethiopians armed with AK 47 came straight at me suddenly after they come out of a detour. They stopped me under gunpoint and forcibly held me to the ground and then everything went against my willing” said Suuban, while weeping.

Suuban said the Ethiopian soldiers did everything to her, including rape and beatings. “After they were done with me, they told me to walk off and not to look back, threatening they will kill me if I do glance back to take a good look at them,” Suuban said.

Ahmed Ali Hassan, Husband of Suuban also spoke to the newsmen said,
“My wife was raped and tortured by Ethiopian soldiers so that I am calling on everyone who can help to rush to our help”

Ali Hassan, husband of the woman claiming to have been raped by Ethiopian forces stands inside their house during their press conference.

The husband also said that he took his wife to Keysaney hospital, one of the major hospitals in Mogadishu for check up.

“Doctors at Keysaney advised us not to have an intercourse for six months to find out whether my wife was infected with HIV. Also the doctor counseled my wife not to breastfeed our youngest baby during the six-month period, said Ahmed.

The news came as Ethiopian premier, Meles Zenawi, told the press that the remaining Ethiopian troops would be withdrawn from Somalia immediately.

"We are looking forward to withdraw our left two third troops," he said.

Regarding the continuous attack on AU's Ugandan peacekeepers since their arrival and other attacks in the capital Mogadishu, Meles said the situation on the ground is not as exaggerated as the media presented it.

"Not a single Ugandan soldier was harmed. I don't see anything that can hinder the peace and reconciliation process in the country," he said.

Meanwhile an Ethiopian military convoy supported by tanks and battlewagons was attacked Tuesday as it was leaving the capital for southern Somalia.

Witnesses said the Ethiopians were traveling out of the capital when unknown gunmen attacked them around KM4 junction, south of Mogadishu.