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Somalia: Kismayu falls into clan militia
Mon. April 23, 2007 01:08 pm.- By Mohamed Abdi Farah. -
(SomaliNet) The fighting in Kismayu, 500km south of Somalia has ended today after several hours of heavy clan based gun battle raged in the city which claimed the lives of 16 people and wounded many others. One of the clans involved in the fighting took over the control of the city, sources say on Monday.
The fighting was between soldiers loyal to Bare Hirale, the defense minister and Abdirisak Afgadud, the commander of the first division of the government forces.
The war stopped around 2:00pm local time as Kismayu has fallen into hands of clan militia.
Unnamed spokesman for the militia of the Merahan clan said they have seized the whole control of Kismayu and defeated what he called ‘the militia from Puntland’.
“We are not against the transitional government but we are part of it and we have repelled the attack from the Marjerten militia inside the government, now Kismayu is under our control and we are ready to work with the government,” added the spokesman.
Militia undressed the uniform of the government soldiers mounted on war vehicles could be seen inside of Kismayu waving to the people and expressing symbols of victory.
Over 10 dead bodies of 1st division of Somali’s government soldiers were laid inside Kiasmayu’s police station as reports say.
It is unclear where the government soldiers who were loyal to Col. Afgadud have gone but unconfirmed reports say that they left the city for Mogadishu.
The rival clans fighting in Kismayu have long been challenging over the leadership of the town since contingents of Ethiopian troops left the town mid February.
The clashes in Kismayu, a controversial city in south of Somalia, came as the deadliest battle still rages in the capital for the fifth consecutive day.
According to medical sources, More than 400 people, most of them civilians who were caught between the cross-fire of the rocket explosions, are believed to have died, while more than 1,000 were wounded during the fighting.
News Category: Somalia
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