From: Berhane Habtemariam (Berhane.Habtemariam@gmx.de)
Date: Fri Nov 27 2009 - 09:12:19 EST
Serious confrontation near Harar
Published 11/27/2009 - 8:24 p.m. GMT
According to information received by The Indian Ocean Newsletter, a deadly
skirmish occurred on 16 November in a place known as Jaketa, situated
between Harar and Babile in the east of Ethiopia. It pitted government
soldiers of the South Eastern Command against unidentified rebel forces and
is believed to have made several tens of victims among the government
troops. Many of the wounded soldiers were treated at the Hiwot Fana Hospital
and other hospitals in Harar.
Although no organisation has yet officially claimed responsibility for this
action, it is highly likely that those involved were Ogaden National
Liberation Front (ONLF) rebels, the most active group in this region.
However, according to some witnesses, several of these attackers spoke to
each other in the Amhara language, which is not so common in the ranks of
the ONLF. They may have been instructors from outside this region of
Ethiopia. This military confrontation occurred after arms were stolen in
Harar at the beginning of the month, a theft attributed to ONLF rebels
----[This List to be used for Eritrea Related News Only]----