10 XABASHI soldiers baa la wasay yesterday. GUUL IYO GOBANIM

[Hiiraan boy]

Somalia: Ethiopian soldiers, civilians killed in Mogadishu
20 Oct 20, 2007 - 7:10:37 PM

MOGADISHU, Somalia Oct 20 (Garowe Online) - Insurgents waging war on Somalia's government and its Ethiopian military allies ambushed Ethiopian forces conducting routine operations in Mogadishu Saturday afternoon, witnesses said.

The hour-long gun battle erupted in north Mogadishu's Towfiiq neighborhood. The Ethiopian unit that came under attack was searching homes for weapons and explosives.

The insurgents used rocket propelled grenades and machineguns in their battle with Ethiopian troops. The Ethiopian unit, backed by armored vehicles, retreated in different directions as the battle intensified, sources said.

Witnesses in Towfiiq reported that some Ethiopian soldiers were using back alleys to reach their home base after the ambush, while others used the main road.

Two civilians were killed in the crossfire, said a witness who saw the two dead bodies from his bedroom window.

Other witnesses said they saw 6 Ethiopian soldiers with blood on their uniform. It could not be confirmed if the soldiers were dead or wounded.

The intensity of tonight's gunfight reminded Towfiiq residents of bloody gun battles in March and April when insurgents and Somali-Ethiopian troops engaged in face-to-face combat for 10 days straight.

[Fale]

Condom la'aan miyaa lagu wasay