Land mines kill dozen Somali troops

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Heavy explosions kill a dozen Somali forces in Mogadishu including an army commander, and leave a number of Ethiopian troops wounded.

The incident occurred at former Siyad Barre military Academic Building in the south of the capital when a group of soldiers were hit by remote-controlled land mines planted near the premises.

The blasts killed at least 12 Somali soldiers as well as an army commander while some 20 Ethiopian troops were seriously wounded, Press TV correspondent in Somalia reported.

The government soldiers and their Ethiopian military supporters are suffering increasing setbacks as more Somali groups are taking arms against them. Among them are businessmen

and ordinary people who have resorted to weapons to defend their businesses and 'souls'.

We do not have good relations with civilians and ordinary people, said a commander who has escaped the government side, suggesting the friendship between the Ethiopian and Somali generals is not understandable.

He said more Somali soldiers are escaping the army, complaining that angry Ethiopians kill them just for being Somalis after they come under insurgent attacks.

SOURCE: PressTV, March 22, 2008

Hiiraan Online