Ethiopian troops move to another Somali twon
August 31, 2009 (ADDIS ABABA) — Ethiopian troops have moved toward another town in western part of Somalia after they successfully dislodged the Islamist insurgents from Beledweyne where they entered on Saturday.
Ethiopian army for the first time since January returned to Beledweyn, a town near the Ethiopian border, after the fighters of Al-Shebab group had taken control of some parts the town on August 20.
Hundreds of Ethiopian troops in heavily armoured vehicles left Beledweyne, the capital of western region of Hiraan heading to Bulobarde town in the same region.
The hard-line militants had resisted an attack by the government forces last week on Bulobarde. Their attack on Beledweyn was in retaliation for an offensive by pro-government fighters on their strongholds.
Pro-government fighters recently launched a raid against Al-Shebab, an Al Qaeda-inspired militia group which alongside the more political Hizb Al-Islam control several town in the region since the pullout of the Ethiopian army from western Somalia.
Last June, Prime Minister Meles Zenawi said Ethiopia could send troops to Somalia if the situation there deteriorates. His statement came after call by Somalia’s speaker on neighboring countries and international community to intervene militarily in Somalia to prop up the UN backed transitional federal government.
The Ethiopian Communications Minister, Bereket Simon at the time, said Ethiopia would only intervene militarily in Somali to support the besieged transitional government if it has a clear international mandate.
However, Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Johnnie Carson, showed opposition to the intervention of Ethiopian troops in the neighboring Somalia. Such intervention could be “counterproductive” to the Somali government, he said. Adding he fears that this would increase the popularity of the Islamist insurgency.
(ST)