Ethiopia plays down civilian killings in Somalia

By Tesfa-alem Tekle

August 18, 2008 (ADDIS ABABA) — The Ethiopian government denied today reports about the killing of Somali civilians saying these allegation are fabricated by the Somali opposition.

Ethiopian forces opened fire on two civilian buses in the town of Arbiska near the Somali capital Mogadishu on Friday, killing at least 30 passengers, the Agence France Presse reported last Friday.

“It is shame that international media organizations irresponsibly took fabricated reports first released” from the opposition Al-Shabab website for granted. Said the Ethiopian foreign ministry in a statement released on Monday.

Addis Ababa said a Somalia-Ethiopia joint fact finding team comprising local residents has carried out its inquiry on the spot and unlike the reports it has found the Somali Al-shabab Islamist militant group responsible for the killings of those innocent civilians.

The statement said 11 passengers were killed by an explosive planted by the militants on the road between Afgoye and Mogadishu, at 18 away from the capital.

Following the blast, Somali government soldiers “and Ethiopia then took a joint counter measure on the Al-Shabab militants responsible for the bombing and killed five terrorists therein” the statement worded.

Roadside bombs are common in Somalia, where Islamist fighters are battling Ethiopian forces who backed government troops to oust an their movement in early 2007.

The Islamists also targeted government forces and African Union peacekeepers in Mogadishu.

Somalia has been shattered by deadly conflicts which have defied numerous attempt to restore peace since the 1991 ouster of dictator Mohamed Siad Bare.

(ST)