Ethiopian troops crackdown in central town
Posted: 8/18/2008 10:27:00 AM
Shabelle: BELEDWEYNE
Reports from Beledweyne town, the provincial capital of Hiran region central Somalia that the Ethiopian troops in the town have on track military maneuver against the armed islamist groups in the town residents said.
Armed with light weapons, machineguns and propelled grenades the suspicious marching troops have entered in some villages of the town searching in the houses and the vehicles passing in the town.
“Two Ethiopian soldiers have came in my home, they asked me whether men were in our house but fortunately no men were inside” resident Maryan Rage told Shabelle Radio.
Civilian transportation vehicles have been prevented from using the streets in the town by the soldiers.
Half of the town's population have fled as results of deadly battles in their locales.
No arrests carried out by the Ethiopian troops in their operation were reported.
This comes as more than 16 people were killed in a fighting that was between the Ethiopian troops and UIC fighters has broken out in the out on Friday.
The city has experienced in the recent times deadly attacks between the two struggling sides of Ethiopians and the Islamic courts union.