From: Biniam Haile \(SWE\) (eritrea.lave@comhem.se)
Date: Sat Jul 04 2009 - 13:00:24 EDT
Somalia: Military tensions high in Hiran region near Ethiopia border
4 Jul 4, 2009 - 8:
BELETWEIN, Somalia July 4 (Garowe Online) - Military maneuvers in Hiran
region of central Somalia is leading to rising tensions, as Ethiopian
troops move closer to the provincial capital Beletwein and Somali rebels
are reportedly gearing up for war, Radio Garowe reports.
Ethiopian troops have reportedly moved closer to Beletwein after
spending weeks at Kala-Beyr junction, a strategic crossroads that
connects the central regions to the northeastern State of Puntland and
Ethiopia's Somali-inhabited eastern regions.
Hiran region is home to three Somali Islamist factions: the
pro-government Islamic Courts Union (ICU) faction, led by Hiran ruler
Sheikh Abdirahman Ibrahim Ma'ow; Hizbul Islam rebels loyal to Sheikh
Hassan Dahir Aweys; and Al Shabaab guerrillas.
On Saturday, hundreds of government soldiers and ICU fighters were
deployed at important government installations in Beletwein, including
the main administration building and the central police station.
Local sources reported that Gen. Muktar Hussein Afrah, who came from
Mogadishu, has taken charge over government forces in Beletwein and was
reportedly reorganizing the security situation after a deadly suicide
bombing killed Security Minister Omar Hashi on June 18 among at least 25
other dead victims.
Some government forces have been gathered at El Gal military camp in the
outskirts of Beletwein, the sources added.
Defection
A senior ICU security official said he has defected and joined Hizbul
Islam rebels after accusing Somali government officials and lawmakers of
"movements to return Ethiopian troops" back to Somalia.
Sheikh Ibrahim Yusuf, the top security commander in Beletwein under the
ICU rule of Sheikh Ma'ow, declared that he has joined the opposition
faction Hizbul Islam last Thursday.
He was backed by a number of loyal fighters and at least two armed
trucks, sources said. Sheikh Omar Abu Hadi, the Hizbul Islam chief in
Beletwein, said he welcomed Sheikh Ibrahim.
Sheikh Ma'ow, who has led the ICU fighters in Hiran for months, was
reportedly called to Mogadishu where he is holding talks with high-level
government officials and military commanders.
During the Ethiopian army's two-year military intervention in
south-central Somalia, which ended in Jan. 2009, Beletwein had the
third-largest concentration of Ethiopian troops deployed in Somalia
after Mogadishu and Baidoa.
The town remains important for commercial activities and is located
along the major north-south highway that transverses in the middle of
Somalia.
Source: Garowe Online
http://www.garowe.com/
<http://web.mit.edu/cascon/maps/Somalia_sm99.jpg>
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