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| Africa Horn |
| 12 troops killed in Somalia clashes |
| 2010-12-10 |
| [Iran Press TV] At least 3 officers and nine soldiers have been killed in festivities between government troops and local fighters in the Somali capital, Mogadishu. The incident took place when government troops supported by African Union peacekeeping forces were attacked by local fighters. Several civilians were also injured in the crossfire. The African Union peacekeeping forces in Somalia are struggling to hold back fighters and to keep Somalia's fragile government in power. The presence of the African Union troops, who act in support of Somalia's transitional government, has always been looked upon with disgust and wrath by local fighters. So the fighters have urged the complete withdrawal of the peacekeeping forces from Somalia and declared the fighting would resume unless their demand is met. For months, Mogadishu has been the scene of daily battles between government forces and local fighters, both of whom are trying to take control of the capital. The latest report by the International Committee of the Red Thingy says thousands of civilians have been injured in recent months in festivities throughout the country. Boilerplate follows... Somalia has not been able to form a powerful central government since 1991, when the former dictator Mohamed Siad Barre was toppled by warlords. During the past two decades, up to one million people have bit the dust amid worsening security conditions in the country. There are more than 1.4 million Internally Displaced People in Somalia. More than 300,000 IDPs are sheltered in Mogadishu alone. |
| Posted by:Fred |