Tuesday, May 19, 2009
MOGADISHU (AFP) — Ethiopian forces, who pulled out of Somalia in January, on Tuesday crossed into their war-torn neighbour after Islamist rebels launched an onslaught to topple its fledgling government, witnesses said.
Troops in dozens of armoured vehicles set up roadblocks in Kalabeyrka, near Beledweyne, a town some 300 kilometres (186 miles) north of the capital Mogadishu, they said.
"Ethiopian forces have been checking vehicles in the Kalabeyrka area. They were asking people where they came from but they were not arresting anybody," said Abdurahman Afey, a truck driver.
Another witness, Mohamed Sheikh Abdi said: "I have seen Ethiopian forces manning checkpoints in Kalabeyrka. They were many and there were also armoured vehicles including big trucks mounted with anti-aircraft weapons."
Fierce clashes between hardline Islamist insurgents and government troops erupted earlier this month and in two days this week the rebels have seized two key towns north of Mogadishu, sparking fears they would advance to Beledweyne.
The rebel onslaught has been led by the Shebab, a hardline faction accused of links to Al-Qaeda, and Hezb al-Islam, a more political radical group loyal to senior opposition leader Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys.
Ethiopian troops rolled into Somalia in late 2006 to buttress an embattled government against an Islamist movement then led by now Somalia President Sharif Shekh Ahmed and Aweys.
On Monday, Ethiopian Communications Minister Bereket Simon ruled out re-deploying to Somalia.
"We are not contemplating going back there for the moment," he said. "For the moment there is no immediate danger to Ethiopia."
Insurgents now control much of southern and central Somalia, with forces loyal to the internationally recognised government pushed back to a few remaining pockets in Mogadishu and close to the Ethiopian border.
Source: AFP, May 19, 2009