Somalis, Ethiopians Battle With Militiamen
By Salad Duhul
MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somali and Ethiopian forces skirmished with Islamic militiamen in southern Somalia early today, setting off a brush fire, residents said by two-way radio.
The fighting comes after Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi said his forces were carrying out mop-up operations against Islamic militants in the extreme southern corner of Somalia and that he expected to withdraw his troops within a few weeks.
The remote, forested area has few residents and high frequency radio is the only reliable form of communications.
“We are hearing bombardment in Ras Kamboni. It started around 6 a.m. and the strike is now continuing,” one resident said, asking not to be named for fear of retribution. “We can’t see planes, but we can hear heavy explosions.”
Mosa Aden Hersi, who lives 15 miles from Ras Kamboni, said earlier fighting in the area had triggered a brush fire. At least 35 civilians were killed along with fighters during the battle.
“We saw the dead bodies of 17 men in military uniform under a small hill, but we do not know their identity,” he said.
Ethiopia intervened to protect Somalia’s internationally backed government on Dec. 24 after forces loyal the Council of Islamic Courts advanced on the only town the government controlled. Within 10 days, the Ethiopians, joined by Somali troops, had pushed the Islamic fighters into a corner between the Kenyan border and the Indian Ocean.
“The fighting is near and around Ras Kamboni. This is the last hideout of the terrorists. It is a small unit, mopping up operations that have not yet been completed,” Meles told reporters in Ethiopia on Wednesday.
In Washington, officials said U.S. special operations forces are in Somalia hunting suspected al-Qaida fighters, but Pentagon officials dismissed the idea they are planning to send any large number of ground troops to the African nation.
U.S. and Somali officials said Wednesday a small American team has been providing military advice to Ethiopian and Somali forces on the ground. The officials provided little detail and spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the information.
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