Al Qaeda’s Somalia Insurgency Keeps Cranking Up
MOGADISHU, Somalia - Mortars slammed into homes in the Somali capital after fighting between insurgents and Ethiopian troops, killing eight people, including a mother and her two daughters, witnesses said Thursday.
Police spokesman Yusuf Osman Hussein blamed the attacks on remnants of an Islamic militia driven from Mogadishu in December by Ethiopian troops backing Somalia’s fragile government. The militants have been waging insurgent attacks for months in an attempt to regain power.
The mortar fire started after a 30-minute gunbattle between the insurgents and troops.
Mohamed Deeq said he saw two mortars land on his neighbor’s house.
“A mother and two of her daughters were killed, the father was screaming for a help as three of his family members died before his eyes,” he said.
A pregnant woman also was among the dead, said Hassan Madobe, another witness. At least 20 people were wounded.
Eric Laroche, the U.N. humanitarian coordinator for Somalia, said the unrelenting violence is preventing the return of thousands of people who have fled to squalid camps on the outskirts of the capital. Laroche spoke during an unannounced visit to the Somali capital.
About a fifth of Mogadishu’s 2 million residents fled the city during fierce fighting in March and April, as the government tried to crush the insurgents. Only about 125,000 have returned, the U.N. said last month.
Somalia has been mired in chaos since 1991, when warlords overthrew dictator Mohamed Siad Barre and then turned against one another, defending clan fiefdoms. The government was formed in 2004 with the help of the United Nations, but has struggled to assert any real control.
(AP)
Be respectful of others and their opinions. Inflammatory remarks and inane leftist drivel will be deleted. It ain’t about free speech, remember you’re in a private domain. My website, my prerogative.
If you can't handle using your real email address, don't bother posting a comment.
I wonder how long it took to get that sweet paint job.
August 2nd, 2007 at 6:13 amSaw that rig on overhaulin’ with Chip Foose!
I think that guy lives in New Orleans.
August 2nd, 2007 at 6:51 amEZRider:
Mohamed Scheib says: We will paint any car any color for FREE if you blow yourself up.
August 2nd, 2007 at 8:02 amHell if you didnt have a real job you could paint that bad boy in one day lol these dudes have plenty of free time..wish Clinton would have let us finish the job in 93
August 2nd, 2007 at 9:11 amEveryone of these “technical” vehicles should be a traget on some gunship pilot’s hit list. What’s a matter, Ethiopians don’t have gunships? Not a problem for spooky?
Both Kenya AND Ethiopia need to get together and deal with these pukes. Or just open up a new Naval gunnery range in downtown Mogadishu and take all these suckers down in one fell swoop. It is a target rich environment.
Of course, if Clinton and his brilliant defense chief…the second-guesser/micromanager Les “dumbass” Aspin hadn’t of sent support aircraft back out to sea in 1994, maybe these chumps wouldn’t be as strong as they are right now.
These so called technical vehicles burn real well. You don’t even need to waste a standard anti-tank shell on them. 30 mikemike rounds will do nicely.
August 2nd, 2007 at 11:47 amHope we supply the Ethopian military with all the bullets they need for their live training exercise.
August 2nd, 2007 at 1:21 pm