Ethiopia, Somali joint forces kill 164 insurgents

By Tesfa-alem Tekle

November 24, 2008 (ADDIS ABABA) — Joint force of Ethiopian and Transitional government of Somali killed at least 164 Al-shabab Islamist insurgents in a military attack they took 5-kms north of the Somali capital Mogadishu, a military official said.

The Forces took the mission on Friday last week based on an information they were tipped from people saying a re-organized Al-shabab group is planning to assault the joint forces, Lieutenant colonel Negasi Gebretnsae said.

During the raid, military coordinator of the insurgents, Maelin Omour, was killed and a number of weapons are seized, he added

Another Al-shabab group in south Mogadishu is also destroyed same day in a separate mission, he also disclosed.

According to Gebretnsae, the joint forces have continued the attack in every direction to hunt down the reaming members of the Islamist group who fled back.

Somalia didn’t have an effective government since warlords overthrew Dictator Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991.

The government which was formed in 2004 with the help of the United Nations couldn’t bring lasting peace and stability.

Last week, Ethiopia threatened to pullout its troops from Somalia if the political forces in the neighboring country fail to embrace peace and end the 17 year civil war

(ST)