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Somalia: Clashes enter the second day, government may have upper hand
Thu. December 21, 2006 07:38 am. -
(SomaliNet) A fierce battle in southwest of Somalia between fighters of Islamic Courts Union and government troops backed by Ethiopian forces enters in the second.
The fighting which has intensified is taking place in two directions just several kilometres from Baidoa city, the base of the transitional federal government where both sides are exchanging all sorts of weapons fire.
“The first war has restarted at Idale environ around 8:00 am and is still going on and the other skirmish began again at Ugarey area near Daynuunay around 10:00 am local time where both rival troops are exchanging heavy artillery fires,” Abdirahman Sheik, one of the local residents told Somalinet through telephone contact. “This morning we could see Ethiopian helicopter flying over the battle zones and landing on the ground but we can not confirm that the helicopter was taking part in the fighting,”
Idale is 75km southwest of Baidao city, the seat of Somalia’s transitional federal government and Daynuunay is 30km to Baidoa.
Reliable sources in Baidoa say that government troops have retaken Idale environ from the Islamic Courts.
Residents around the area began to flee their settlements in fear of that the war might spread. There are no signs of ceasing the fight but it looks going into deep as both parts gain reinforcements.
In Mogadishu more Islamic fighters riding battle wagons began heading to battle zones to enforce their fellow combatants.
It is very difficult to verify the exact casualties resulted from the latest clashes as each of the warring sides claim victory over the other.
The clashes caused hundreds of deaths and injuries from both sides, as independent sources say.
The road between Baidoa and Mogadishu was cut off due to the ongoing fighting in which both sides exert all its power.
Interim government officials based in Baidoa and Islamic Courts Union accuse each other of starting the war.
Other developments from Baidoa say that the Ethiopian forces have captured dozens of Islamists from the frontline.
One of the Baidoa residents who declined to be identified told Somalinet that three Lorries filled with Islamist prisons mostly students caught in the fighting reached Baidoa today.
Unconfirmed reports say foreign fighters fighting alongside with the Islamic Courts were killed in the battles. If true, it would be a severe blow to the ICU.
News Category: Somalia
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