Ethiopian Woyanne troops supporting Somalia’s interim government have been involved in fierce battles with insurgents in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu.
At least five Ethiopian Woyanne soldiers and seven civilians have died in fighting in areas close to the stadium.
Eyewitnesses told the BBC that three of the soldiers’ bodies were dragged through the streets by militiamen.
The UN says the city is facing a “humanitarian catastrophe” with some 80,000 people fleeing recent fighting.
Fatalities
On Friday morning the Ethiopian Woyanne forces engaged fighters who have been conducting guerrilla-style attacks on them since the beginning of the year, in three areas close to the stadium.
The insurgents are loyal to the union of Islamic courts which were expelled from Somalia after briefly controlling much of central and southern parts of the country.
Local residents were also reported as having opened fire on Ethiopian Woyanne forces, with eyewitnesses saying at least five of the Ethiopian soldiers were killed.
Hospitals report treating 11 wounded civilians but it is feared that fatalities may be much higher as many of the roads in the area have been blocked off.
Correspondents said that as the day went on the heavy fighting subsided, but sporadic gunfire could still be heard.
No fresh food
Thousands of residents have been abandoning the city since intense gun battles broke out at the weekend.
The BBC’s Somali Service says that this latest outbreak of fighting has left the city without fresh supplies of food as vehicles have been unable to enter the city from the south.
Earlier this week international aid agencies warned of an unfolding humanitarian crisis in parts of Somalia.
This warning came as Somali faced further uncertainty after its prime minister, Ali Mohammed Ghedi, resigned on Monday.
About 40 aid agencies working in Somalia have said the fighting has cut off their ability to respond effectively to the needs of the displaced people.
According to the UN some 400,000 displaced people are now living in camps in towns outside Mogadishu, which include Afgooye.
Somali’s transitional government is struggling to impose its authority on the country and its forces and their Ethiopian Woyanne allies face daily attacks from insurgents.
10 thoughts on “At least 5 Woyanne soldiers died in Mogadishu fighting”
leave somalia deal with your problem woyane
Kifle your life in risk
Meles wants to create an ever lasting hate among the people of the horn.He is without a doubt the worst enemy of the Somali people whether they live in Ogaden or Somalia.Many Ethiopians may not realise it but he`s also the worst thing that happened to Ethiopia.
Happy Woyanne gangs are bogged down in wild Mugadishu, so people in Addis can rest in peace!!!
Elias, You are now comitteing the same mistake EPRP and Weyane did. Supporting breakup of Ethiopia because you do not like the person in the palace. This a shortsighted move
What a tragedy? Ethiopians and Somalis should come out and voice their opposition towards the heinous crime being perpetrated on the people of Somalia. Meles has replaced Charles Taylor in causing so much pain, suffering and misery to so many millions of people in Ethiopia and now in Somalia.
It is simply incomprehensible that the world is watching as the murderous autocratic and genocidal rule of Meles Zenawi and his Tigrean Thugs are systematically killing Somalis, Oromos, Amaras, Sidamas, Agnuaks, Wolayitas, Afars, Gurages, Kambatas unabated. What a tragedy of bottomless pit – killings by his murderous “Agazi” all around Ethiopia!!!
The non-Tigrean portion of the Ethiopian Defence Forces as well as all democratic opposition forces must stand in unison and say Enough is ENOUGH – People from all corners and all persuasions must rise up and say we are not gonna take it anymore. After all “Woyane Gorfe Yametaw Chika New”.
If people of Ethiopia, (the Oromos, Somalis, Amaras etc) rise up in unity against this child murderers believe me they will be history in weeks if not in days!!!
Meles and his cohorts must be brought to Justice!
I wish and hope that his fate is no different than Sadam Hussien!
1. Heilu says:
“Kifle your life in risk”
Elias is the extreme left free press info center for the opposition’s camp. Meaning he uses psychological warfare on pro government sympathizers by using his only weapon, which is freelance writing skills. Comrade Heilu, unlike the totalitarian regime, this individual is driven by pursuit of rule of law and level filed competition for our motherland’s illusive political landscape.
It is shame for Ethiopian Review to cross “Ethiopia” and put “woyanne” to portrait Ethiopian solders as mercenaries. How simple is for you to satisfy your pathetic psyche. Work very hard for Egypt and Libyan. Ethiopians are fighting bravely in Somalia for the lasting piece of the area and for strategics interest of our country. A low-less area since 1991, where no country or organization is interested to help Somalians as people and country. We shall triumph finally, and history in our side will justify the scrifice.
Guys, do you think those soldiers died in Mogadishu are Woyane? Please, they are definitely not the real woyane, but the children of the poor from all over the country.
Please differentiate this, and don’t joke on our brothers’ blood, even if Woyane is mis-using it.
Always separate woyane from Ethiopians
Peace to Ethiopia
Unless they are weyanes or supporting the weyanes why they are invading the Somali’s should have to refuse to kill the Somalis and their brothers in Ethiopia have seen them how they are greedy and arrogant recently while they are killing their mothers Fathers Brothers and sisters and totally their children by supporting the weyane regime.