2 killed in fighting between Somali forces, 'bandits'

Thu Nov 5, 2009

At least two people have died and nine more injured in the fighting between Somali government forces and militants disguised as government soldiers in the capital Mogadishu, reports say.

The fighting erupted at the junction between Banadir and Zope in southern Mogadishu where government forces clashed with militants wearing Somali forces uniforms, eyewitnesses told a Press TV correspondent.

The engagement occurred after the militants attacked vehicles carrying humanitarian aids.

“The bandits killed two people who were on the small car. One of the victims was the head of Mogadishu's Hotel Nasahabod," said Col. Abdullahi Hassan Barise, a Somali police spokesman, adding that "Several other people were also injured.”

The attackers reportedly intended to seize the vehicles contracted by the UN Food Agency WFP to transport humanitarian aid.

The strategy devised by Somali bandits to be clad in army fatigues has made it difficult for civilians to clearly differentiate between them and genuine government force in face of prevalent fierce confrontations in the lawless Horn of Africa nation.

The restive Somali capital Mogadishu has been ravaged by constant fighting between warring factions, leading to tens of thousands of deaths and massive exodus.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://edition.presstv.ir/detail/110537.html.