From: Biniam Tekle (biniamt@dehai.org)
Date: Tue May 19 2009 - 08:19:53 EDT
May 19, 2009
Ethiopian forces return to Somalia
2 hours ago
MOGADISHU (AFP) — Ethiopian forces, who pulled out of Somalia in January, on
Tuesday crossed into their war-torn neighbour after Islamist rebels launched
an onslaught to topple its fledgling government, witnesses said.
Troops in dozens of armoured vehicles set up roadblocks in Kalabeyrka, near
Beledweyne, a town some 300 kilometres (186 miles) north of the capital
Mogadishu, they said.
"Ethiopian forces have been checking vehicles in the Kalabeyrka area. They
were asking people where they came from but they were not arresting
anybody," said Abdurahman Afey, a truck driver.
Another witness, Mohamed Sheikh Abdi said: "I have seen Ethiopian forces
manning checkpoints in Kalabeyrka. They were many and there were also
armoured vehicles including big trucks mounted with anti-aircraft weapons."
Fierce clashes between hardline Islamist insurgents and government troops
erupted earlier this month and in two days this week the rebels have seized
two key towns north of Mogadishu, sparking fears they would advance to
Beledweyne.
On Monday, Ethiopian Communications Minister Bereket Simon ruled out
re-deploying to Somalia.
"We are not contemplating going back there for the moment," he said. "For
the moment there is no immediate danger to Ethiopia."
The rebel onslaught has been led by the Shebab, a hardline faction accused
of links to Al-Qaeda, and Hezb al-Islam, a more political radical group
loyal to senior opposition leader Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys.
The fighting that kicked off on May 7 has killed at least 110 people and
displaced some 30,000, mainly in Mogadishu.
Government forces in the capital only control a compound housing the
president's office and a few ministry buildings, as well as the airport and
the seaport, according to witnesses.
The international community has called for an end to the fighting, accused
Eritrea of providing support to Aweys' forces and urged all sides to spare
civilians.
Ethiopian troops rolled into Somalia in late 2006 to buttress an embattled
government against an Islamist movement then led by now Somalia President
Sharif Shekh Ahmed and Aweys.
Their withdrawal sparked fears of a security vacuum as fighters of the
toppled Islamist movement waged relentless battles against them, government
targets and a small African Union peacekeeping force in Mogadishu.
While Sharif later joined a UN-sponsored reconciliation process and was
eventually elected president in January, Aweys has remained in the
opposition and returned from exile last month to challenge his former ally.
Insurgents now control much of southern and central Somalia, with forces
loyal to the internationally recognised government pushed back to a few
remaining pockets in Mogadishu and close to the Ethiopian border.
The Horn of African country has lacked a central authority since the 1991
ouster of president Mohamed Siad Barre sparked violence.
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