SOMALIA: Mortars fired by Islamist insurgents as Ethiopian sodliers leave Mogadishu palace

Record ID: 352338

  • Title: SOMALIA: Mortars fired by Islamist insurgents as Ethiopian sodliers leave Mogadishu palace
  • Date: 15th January 2009
  • Summary: MOGADISHU, SOMALIA (JANUARY 14, 2008) (REUTERS) ISLAMISTS' FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE CAR CARRYING WOUNDED PEOPLE
  • Embargoed: 30th January 2009 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Somalia
  • Country: Somalia
  • Topics: War / Fighting,International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA55E0C2P6AS9EJQ7H2QP3COC40
  • Story Text: Islamist insurgents fire mortars at Mogadishu's presidential palace and ambush departing Ethiopian soldiers, underlining fears of more bloodshed in the troubled horn of Africa country.
    Islamist insurgents fired mortars at Mogadishu's presidential palace and ambushed departing Ethiopian soldiers on Wednesday (January 14), underlining fears of more bloodshed in Somalia after Addis Ababa's pullout.
    Witnesses said security forces, including African Union (AU) peacekeepers guarding the hill-top palace compound in the coastal capital, responded with their own volleys of artillery shells, shaking the city for several hours and wounding dozens.
    Then suspected militants from the al Shabaab group ambushed an Ethiopian convoy carrying departing soldiers, on a street not far from the palace. The Ethiopians fought back with a tank.
    Some analysts say the ongoing withdrawal of some 3,000 Ethiopian soldiers will leave a vacuum, triggering more violence by rebels who have battled the U.N.-backed administration for two years, and are now increasingly fighting each other.
    Others hope the Ethiopian exit could be positive, removing forces seen by many locals as occupiers and spurring more moderate Islamist factions to participate in forming a new, inclusive government.
    After vacating four bases on Tuesday, the Ethiopians left two more on Wednesday, one at a football stadium.
    "I am one of the football players in this village near the stadium but since Ethiopians entered Somalia I haven't played football in this stadium, I would never even come near the stadium because of the Ethiopians.
    Now I am very happy today and thanks to God," witness Mohamed Rorayeh told Reuters.
    The Ethiopians have eight other bases in Mogadishu and face a 500km journey through Somalia to the border on departure.
    Somalis are pessimistic about a return to peace in a nation that has suffered 18 years of incessant civil conflict.
    After the resignation of former president Abdullahi Yusuf, a new president is supposed to be elected by Jan. 26.
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