Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Mogadishu (Agenzia Fides) - Military operations in Somalia by Government troops and the Ethiopian army to oust the militia of the Union of Islamic Courts continue. Various air strikes are reported but it is not known whether the Ethiopian or American air force are responsible.
The interim government said air strikes were carried out by the US air force in the south in Hayo, Garer, Bankajirow and Badmadowe, of which the last two were “very heavy”. Earlier the Somali government had denied that there had been American air strikes, while admitting Ethiopian raids. A Pentagon spokesman said he “had no news” of other US air strikes in Somalia.
A senior Somali official said Fazul Abdullah Mohammed master mind of the terrorist attacks on US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998, was among those killed in the previous raids (see Fides 9 January 2007).
In the meantime the Ethiopian government said its task force in Somalia had reached its goals. Ethiopian Information Minister, Bwerhan Hailu, stated that the Somali fundamentalists are not longer a threat: “Ethiopia concluded with efficiency and effectiveness the operation launched to eliminate the threat posed by terrorist groups in Somalia. The mission to defend our sovereignty ended with a brilliant victory. There is no longer any threatening force in Somalia”. However the Ethiopian government has not said when it will withdraw its troops from Somalia.
The situation in Mogadishu is still not stable: attacks by armed gangs close to the Islamic Courts on government and Ethiopian troops are reported. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 10/1/2007 righe 27 parole 305)
