Somalia: Heavy confrontation between the Islamists and government soldiers
Wednesday, August 27 2008
Mohamed Omar Hussein
Muqdisho (Somaliweyn) - Heavy battle between the armed Islamist and the Somali government soldiers occurred in some parts of the Somali capital Mogadishu on Wednesday morning.
The epicenter of the hot skirmish was around ex-Comrade Siyad academy in the northwestern direction of the Somali capital Mogadishu which is now base for the Somali military force supported by the Ethiopian troops.
“I have seen cloud of smoke engulfing in the entire area and I am sure that fighting was in fact very heavy” said Ahmed who is among the few residents who are still remaining there after most of the inhabitants in the area fled due to the constant battles in the area between the insurgents and the Somali government soldiers backed by the Ethiopian soldiers.
Ahmed has also added that he has seen a Toyota pick which he thinks belongs to the government soldier burning flames.
This battle was almost heard in the entire city and it was much bigger than that one of yesterday which took place in the same environment and both sides have used different sorts of weaponries such as rocket propel grenades and mortars.
A mortar fired by either the Islamist or the other party has landed at a house which roughly some 4KM from the fighting ground and has wounded a family of four.
The fighting has now subsided though some sporadic shootings could be heard in the area.