Mogadishu 20, Dec.06 ( Sh.M.Network) – Violent clashes between Islamic Courts fighters and the Ethiopian backed government forces are taking place near Baidoa for the second day. Both sides accuse each other for the initiation of the war.
As number of Casualties did not emerge yet, the fighting that started sporadically late on Tuesday afternoon in Idaale settlement, 70 km south of Baidoa, a seat for the government, has escalated this morning, reaching around Daynunay army training camp, 30 km away from the main town of Baidoa.
Islamic Courts Union chair for Bai province, Mohammed Ibrahim Bilal, alleged they captured Daynunay settlement near Baidoia.
It is not yet clear if Ethiopian troops were involved in today’s fighting. Islamists gave the Ethiopian government an ultimatum to pull its troops out of the country or face major attacks. The deadline that was supposed to be met Tuesday went.
Ali Mudey, Islamic Courts information secretary, said they would not attack Ethiopians in the country. “There are ongoing negotiations between us and the Ethiopian government brokered by Djibouti and Yemen. We are hopeful for peace”, he said.
However, the war started despite assurances from Islamic Courts they would not launch attacks.
Bilal accused the government of first attacking Islamist military bases in villages near Daununay and Idaale.
The assistant defense minister of the transitional government Salad Ali Jelle said the government forces killed 10 Islamist militias, accusing the ICU of initiating the war in the first place.
Claims of both sides can not be independently verified.
Witnesses say they saw more wounded people brought in Baidoa town, adding that some of the civilians in Idaale hit by stray bullets were also brought in the town of Baidoa.
Resident in Baidoa said they could hear the sounds artillery and mortar shell explosions.
The skirmishes came as EU commissioner Louis Mitchell has arrived in Baidoa, the only outpost administered by the government.
The EU commission is due to reach Mogadishu in hours to come.
Aweys Osman Yusuf