SOMALI LINKS
|
Somalia: Ethiopia Troops Pull Out of Key Town
03/09/08,
13 September 2008
Ethiopian troops withdrew from the central Somali town of Beletwein overnight Friday, after controlling the key town since July 24,
Radio Garowe reported.
Hundreds of locals took to the streets and walked by areas where Ethiopian soldiers used to patrol, including the main administration
building and the police station.
It was not clear why the Ethiopian army pulled out of Beletwein, which has the third-largest concentration of Ethiopian forces
deployed in Somalia after Mogadishu and Baidoa.
But the region's traditional elders have been negotiating with Ethiopian commanders to leave Beletwein during the Muslim holy month of
Ramadan.
Islamic Courts officials claimed victory, saying the Ethiopian troops withdrew after loosing many soldiers in insurgent attacks.
Beletwein residents told Radio Garowe that Islamist fighters had entered the town and took control of strategic areas, including
two key bridges.
Officials appointed by the Somali interim government reportedly left Beletwein a day earlier, but it remains
unclear whether or not the Ethiopian soldiers who withdrew to a military base in the outskirts of the town will return.
Read comments. Write your own.
Author: somaliweyn
The islamist forces have been attacking the Ethiopian troops who illegal occupy Somali soil relentlessly and Ethiopia have lost countless soldeir in Beletweyn area and it was a matter of time for the Ethiopian troops to pull out from those strategic points and iam not surprised .
ogadennews1@hotmail.com
|
SOMALI MAQAAL
|
Doollo Suugaan
Shirkii odayaal
dhaqameedka ee ay London ku qabteen halkan ka dhageyso
isaga oo cod ah
