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Somalia War Rages on
MOGADISHU — Somalia's Ethiopia-backed forces and Islamic Courts fighters clashed Saturday, December23 , near the seat of government in Baidoa for a fourth day of bloody battles, with Ethiopian tanks brought into battle and both sides claiming to inflict massive casualties.
Courts Information Chief Abdurahim Ali Muddey said their fighters have seized the frontline position of Idale, some 60 kilometers ( 40miles) south of Baidoa, the seat of the interim government, reported Agence France-Presse (AFP).
"Our Islamic fighters have taken control of Idale and are heading to other parts where Tigray (Ethiopian) invaders are now based, by the will of Allah, we will liberate our people and country from the Ethiopian invaders," he told AFP.
There was no independent confirmation of the claim.
Ethiopia is supporting Somalia's weakened government against the Courts, which control the capital Mogadishu and much of the rest of the war-ravaged Horn of Africa nation.
Fighting erupted early Wednesday, hours after the expiry of a Courts-imposed ultimatum to Ethiopia to withdraw the thousands of troops the courts say Addis Ababa has deployed in the country.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said the fighting has left "dozens" dead.
But the government has said its Ethiopian-backed forces have killed more than 500 courts fighters since Wednesday, while the Courts spoke of slaying at least 70 enemy combatants.
Muddey said the Courts Islamist forces were pushing back the Ethiopian-backed troops.
"The invaders have been repelled, we have a lot of their bodies here and are going to show the media, we have their ID cards, pictures with their wives and other equipment," he said.
The fighting on twin fronts has forced thousands of residents to flee.
Ethiopian Tanks
Ethiopia moved Friday night tanks and other reinforcements into the battle zone, witnesses said.
They said Ethiopian military trucks headed to Sadehigle, outside the Courts-held town of Bandiradley, about630 kilometers ( 400miles) north of Mogadishu.
More
http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=1165994136233&pagename=Zone-English-News/NWELayout
"Our Islamic fighters have taken control of Idale and are heading to other parts where Tigray (Ethiopian) invaders are now based, by the will of Allah, we will liberate our people and country from the Ethiopian invaders," he told AFP.
There was no independent confirmation of the claim.
Ethiopia is supporting Somalia's weakened government against the Courts, which control the capital Mogadishu and much of the rest of the war-ravaged Horn of Africa nation.
Fighting erupted early Wednesday, hours after the expiry of a Courts-imposed ultimatum to Ethiopia to withdraw the thousands of troops the courts say Addis Ababa has deployed in the country.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said the fighting has left "dozens" dead.
But the government has said its Ethiopian-backed forces have killed more than 500 courts fighters since Wednesday, while the Courts spoke of slaying at least 70 enemy combatants.
Muddey said the Courts Islamist forces were pushing back the Ethiopian-backed troops.
"The invaders have been repelled, we have a lot of their bodies here and are going to show the media, we have their ID cards, pictures with their wives and other equipment," he said.
The fighting on twin fronts has forced thousands of residents to flee.
Ethiopian Tanks
Ethiopia moved Friday night tanks and other reinforcements into the battle zone, witnesses said.
They said Ethiopian military trucks headed to Sadehigle, outside the Courts-held town of Bandiradley, about630 kilometers ( 400miles) north of Mogadishu.
More
http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=1165994136233&pagename=Zone-English-News/NWELayout
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· Rebel Islamist fighters threaten full-scale assault
Xan Rice, East Africa correspondent
Saturday December 23, 2006
The Guardian
Ethiopia was reported to have moved tanks and helicopters towards the front lines in Somalia yesterday as artillery and rocket battles continued for a fourth day between Islamist and government forces.
Dozens of fighters from both sides have been killed on two fronts near the government seat of Baidoa since this week's clashes began. Fighters loyal to the Somali Council of Islamic Courts (SCIC) said yesterday that tanks from neighbouring Ethiopia, which is propping up Somalia's weak government, had shelled them for the first time. Baidoa residents also saw four Ethiopian helicopters flying towards the battlefield, Associated Press reported.
More
http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,,1977937,00.html