Somali Islamist kill two Ethiopian soldiers in attack

Jan 2, 2007 (MOGADISHU) — At least two Ethiopian soldiers were killed and another one wounded Tuesday when an Islamist fighter attacked their camp and opened fire in southern Somali town, local officials and residents said.

They said the gunman emerged from a jungle and opened fire at an Ethiopian camp in Jilib, about 100 kilometres (60 miles) north of the key southern port town of Kismayo, which the now-vanquished Islamists lost early Monday.

“The first insurgency attack has been carried out. An armed Islamist fighter who has been hiding in the jungle … attacked a camp in the town (and) opened fire, killing two Ethiopian armed forces,” said Mohamoud Dahir Farah, the chairman of Jilib local authority.

Farah the assailant donning military uniform re-emerged again, opened fire and wounded another soldier, but was also gunned down the Ethiopian forces.

“The injured officer has been taken by Ethiopian helicopter,” he added.

Residents confirmed the attack, which comes a day after the Ethiopian troops supporting Somali forces seized control of the southern port town of Kismayo, the last Islamists stronghold, forcing them to flee.

“I was in a house near the camp when one man with a gun and some hand grenades attacked the Ethiopian forces in the camp,” said Jilib resident Dooyow Hassan Mohamed.

“He opened fire and killed two soldiers, wounding another one,” Mohamed said, adding that the assailant was killed.

The Islamists have conceded defeat, but have vowed to wage a guerrilla war against their rival troops.

(AFP)