ONLF rebels claim killing 20, wounding hundreds of Ethiopian troops

By Tesfa-alem Tekle

November 1, 2008 (ADDIS ABABA) — An Ethiopian rebel group says it has killed around 20 government soldiers and wounded hundreds during fighting with government forces this week in the remote Ogaden region of the nation.

“Around 20 colonial soldiers have been killed after regrouping in the area,” the group said.
“Several hundred others, including seven top leaders were also injured,” it added
There has been no outside confirmation of the claim by the rebel Ogaden National Liberation Front.

The Ethiopian government has repeatedly been rejecting such claims by the group.
The rebel group has also claimed burning 3 armed vehicles in the same area this week.

In recent months the Ogaden rebels have stepped up military attacks against government troops for what they describe as response to government’s wide abuses against the people of the Ogaden region.

The ONLF is an ethnic Somali movement that has waged a mostly low-level insurgency in eastern Ethiopia for more than 20 years. The Ethiopian government launched a large scale crackdown against the group after it attacked an oil exploration field in April, which killed 77 people.

(ST)