Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Mogadishu (AFP) - Clashes between Ethiopian forces and Islamist fighters shattered a ceasefire in the Somali capital on Wednesday and raised fears among residents of more serious unrest.
There was sporadic gunfire across the city and heavy mortar shells around a stadium in southern Mogadishu, where the two sides recently fought the worst battles seen in the Somali capital in 15 years, which left about a thousand dead.
There were no details of casualties from the new fighting but the overnight clashes shattered a week-old ceasefire announced by elders from Mogadishu's dominant Hawiye clan after talks with Ethiopian military commanders.
The resumption of clashes that came hours after the Ethiopian army refused to meet Hawiye elders for routine peace negotiations unless insurgent commanders were present.
"We are very worried and it is clear that the shaky ceasefire has broken because heavy fighting started overnight," said Abdulkadir Mohamed, a resident in Towfiq in south Mogadishu.
"I was sleeping when heavy gunfire broke out. Everyone woke up and fled from the area because stray bullets were hitting everywhere," he added.
Mohamed Hussein Wehliye, a resident near the stadium area, said "We ask the warring sides to stop the fighting because it will increase the casualties and only bring damage."
Last month's heavy fighting erupted when Ethiopian forces launched a crackdown on suspected insurgents in the Somali capital.
Somalia has lacked an effective central government since the ousting of dictator Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991 touched off a power struggle that exploded into inter-clan warfare.
Tensions have risen again since Ethiopian forces helped the UN-backed transitional government to oust Islamists from Mogadishu at the start of the year. The Islamists have since vowed a guerrilla war against the Ethiopians.
Source: AFP, April 11, 2007