Ethiopian troops kill 36 Somali insurgents

By Tesfa-alem Tekle

December 21, 2008 (ADDIS ABABA) – The Ethiopia forces this week killed 36 Somali insurgents including a top leader of the Islamist group, the minister of defense said.

“19 Al- Shebab fighters are killed in a Somalia military operation that our forces took at an area 120 KMs away at the main Mogadishu- Baidcwa line” colonel Gebreyohanns Abate said

“In a separate mission taken on Wednesday in north Mogadishu 17 Al- Shebab insurgent including” the second top military chief sheik Abdullah Salah Farah is killed” he added.

During the Raid, light and heavy weapons are seized the official said.

Colonel Gebreyohannes further said that such military operations will continue until the last minute of there presence in Somalia.

Ethiopia last month announced that it will pullout it’s estimated 3,000 troops from Somalia by the end of 2008 saying it is inappropriate for its troops to remain any longer in Somalia with luck of progress in peace efforts, luck of political commitment among the transitional government leadership and for AU failure to provide enough peace force and necessary help.

(ST)