http://www.news24.com/Africa/News/Ethiopian-army-tanks-boost-force-in-Somalia-20120130
Ethiopian army, tanks boost force in Somalia 2012-01-30 12:23
Mogadishu - Columns of Ethiopian soldiers, armoured vehicles and tanks
poured into Somalia on Monday, bolstering the force already fighting there,
insurgents and witnesses said.
Soldiers began crossing the border late on Sunday and pressed deep into
south-western Somalia's Gedo region towards territory held by Islamist
Shabaab insurgents.
"The Christian troops from Ethiopia are sending soldiers into Somalia, they
have reached Gedo region now," said Sheikh Ibrahim Abu-Yusuf, a senior
commander with the al-Qaeda linked fighters, warning the rebels would fight
back.
"I tell you that mujahideen fighters are ready to defend their soil from
the invading enemy," he told AFP.
Ethiopian soldiers rolled into neighbouring Somalia in November, but Prime
Minster Meles Zenawi only admitted on Friday forces were fighting there,
adding he would pull troops out "as soon as feasible."
Residents in Luq district in Gedo, close to the Ethiopian border, told AFP
several hundred Ethiopians had marched into Somalia Monday.
"Hundreds of Ethiopian soldiers entered Luq in the night after crossing
from the border town of Dolow, they have come with heavy machine guns and
tanks," said Idris Moalim Abdualhi, an elder.
*Fresh troops *
"I have counted at least 42 armed vehicles, including 28 tanks," said Ahmed
Bashir, another resident of Luq.
"The convoy crossed from the border and entered the town, but they appear
to be heading in the direction of Bay region," he added, referring to an
area some 100km inside Somalia, held by the hardline Shabaab.
Before the arrival of the fresh troops on Monday it was estimated that
Ethiopia had around 1 500 men in Somalia.
Armies from neighbouring countries are converging on the Shabaab. Kenya
sent in troops and tanks into southern Somalia in October to fight the
rebels it accuses of carrying out cross-border raids and kidnappings.
The African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom) has some 10 000 troops - from
Uganda, Burundi and Djibouti - in the Somali capital Mogadishu to protect
the fragile Western-backed Somali government.
Ethiopia first deployed troops in Somalia in 2006 to oust an Islamist
movement that ruled much of southern Somalia, but withdrew three years
later after failing to stamp out the group.
- AFP <
http://www.afp.co.za/>
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Received on Mon Jan 30 2012 - 10:24:20 EST
