Fighting in Mogadishu continues for the seventh straight day despite UN call to end the fighting between Somalia government troops backed by Ethiopian forces and Islamic insurgents along with clan militias.
Both sides were exchanging rockets and mortar rounds in the north of the capital where insurgents are based. Mogadishu clan leaders said Wednesday that an Ethiopian General contacted them over ceasefire deal.
Ahmed Derie, who spoke to Shabelle earlier, said the clan fighters were still strong and prepared to fight with the Ethiopians. "General Gabra, the Ethiopian General, contacted us and we, as Hawiye clan leaders, appointed Abdulahi Sheik Ismail to deal with the general over the peace deal," he said.
Thousands of families fled Mogadishu since the skirmishes started 19 April when Ethiopian soldiers and the Islamists clashed around Mogadishu football stadium in north of the capital.
Meanwhile Ethiopian Prime Minister, Males Zenawi, said military operations to clean Somalia of Islamist extremists were going well. "I would be very surprised if it were to take us more than a week or two to completely clear Mogadishu", Zenawi added.
Today's battle rages in north neighborhoods of the capital although it was not as heavy as it was yesterday, according Shabelle reporter, Rage, in Fagah neighborhood.
A suicide bomber drove his car packed in explosives into an Ethiopian military base in south of the capital Tuesday. The number of casualties in the explosions could not be known as the Ethiopian soldiers sealed the area immediately.
By Aweys Osman Yusuf
Source: Shabelle
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