Ogaden rebels claim killing 140 Ethiopian troops

February 20, 2009 (ADDIS ABABA) — The rebel Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) said today they killed more than 140 Ethiopian soldiers as result of fierce fighting in the Somali region of Ethiopia located in the eastern part of the country.

According to a statement released by the rebel group the fighting occurred around the cities of Fik and Degah Bur over the last five days. The rebel group also said its fighters controls completely the vicinity of Fik.

“Over 140 Ethiopian troops and associated militia have been killed as a result of these engagements. The ONLF had a combined casualty total of 29 troops killed and a dozen wounded during the course of these operations,” worded the statement.

The rebels justified the heavy casualties among the Ethiopian troops saying they were favored by the surprise attacks and ambushes they conducted against the Ethiopian military convoys.

These attacks are “a direct response to the massacre of nearly 48 civilians in the town Moyaaha in December 2008 and the more recent killing of over 50 civilians in the town of Mulli in the Shinile area,” the ONLF said.

Further, they accused Ethiopian army of using helicopters to bombe civilians and livestock in the area, after the military operation. However, the ONLF said the pilots discharge their payload in such a way of fear of their commanders “should they return to base with a full payload of munitions.”

The Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF), who is considered by the government as terrorist group, is founded in 1984. The front is fighting for independence for a large part of Ethiopia’s Somali region in eastern Ethiopia, known as the Ogaden.

(ST)