Castro Posted January 6, 2007 Sat Jan 6, 2007 2:57 AM ET By Sahal Abdulle MOGADISHU (Reuters) - Hundreds of Somalis burned tires and threw stones on Saturday in protest at the presence of Ethiopian troops in Mogadishu, a week after the forces helped the interim government drive out Islamists, witnesses said. Ethiopian soldiers shot in the air to disperse the crowd, a Reuters witness said. One resident said the protesters burned tires near stalls sellings jars of fuel in a central K4 area. "All the businesses (near K4) are closed. People are busy defending their businesses," resident Abdi Nur said. Several groups of dozens of people, including women and children, marched in the streets shouting "Down with Ethiopia". Heavily-armed Ethiopian forces helped the Somali government drive out the Islamists from Mogadishu a week ago, breaking free from its provincial outpost Baidoa to end six months of Islamist rule across much of southern Somalia. The protests come just days after an ambush killed at least one Ethiopian soldier in south Somalia and a hand grenade was thrown at Ethiopian troops in Mogadishu. Western and African diplomats had called on Friday for the urgent deployment of peacekeepers in Somalia as al Qaeda's deputy leader urged defeated Islamists to launch an Iraq-style insurgency against Ethiopian forces there. "You must ambush, mine, raid and (carry out) martyrdom campaigns so that you can wipe them out," Ayman al-Zawahri, deputy to al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, said in his message. Al-Zawahri's message, posted on a Web site used by militant Islamist groups, is likely to reinforce Washington's belief that the Somalia Islamic Courts Council is linked to and even run by an al Qaeda cell, a charge the Islamists have denied. The Islamists have vowed to fight on, melting into the hills in Somalia's remote southern tip where Ethiopian and government forces are hunting hundreds of their fighters. Reuters Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Castro Posted January 6, 2007 Somalis protest over Ethiopians Hundreds of people have taken to the streets of the Somali capital Mogadishu in protest at the presence of Ethiopian forces backing the interim government. Witnesses said Ethiopian troops fired in the air to disperse the crowds, as youths burnt tyres and threw stones. A BBC correspondent in Mogadishu says one person has died and at least 10 others have been injured. The protests came as the government indefinitely postponed a disarmament programme in the capital. The original deadline for handing in weapons was Thursday but few people have done so. Observers say Mogadishu is awash with weapons, and violence has increased since Ethiopian-led troops ousted Islamist militias. Meanwhile the US has agreed to provide $10m (£5.2m) towards the funding of a proposed 8,000-strong African Union (AU) peacekeeping force for Somalia. The money is part of a total of $40m that the US Government has pledged to support Somalia's efforts to restore stability. Assistant US Secretary of State Jendayi Frazer is expected to visit Mogadishu on Sunday. 'No surrender' Residents of the capital came out onto the streets, shouting "Down, down with Ethiopia". Protesters voiced their opposition to the disarmament programme. "We don't want a one-sided disarmament ... we don't need the Ethiopians, they must leave our country," said Bile Abdi, quoted by AFP news agency. Several said the programme should cover the whole country, so that all clans throughout the country could be disarmed simultaneously. Ethiopian troops supporting the transitional government ousted Islamist forces less than a week ago. But on Friday, al-Qaeda number two Ayman al-Zawahiri reportedly urged the Islamist militias to fight "crusaders". "I speak to you today as the crusader invader forces of Ethiopia violate the soil of the beloved Muslim Somalia," the five-minute tape, posted on a website used by militants, said. "I call upon the Muslim nation in Somalia to remain in the new battlefield that is one of the crusader battlefields that are being launched by America and its allies and the United Nations against Islam and Muslims." 'Rare chance' On Friday, Somali interim President Abdullahi Yusuf called for a "speedy deployment" of peacekeepers in his war-torn country. Speaking at a Nairobi meeting, he said there was a rare chance for a real political breakthrough in Somalia, plagued by violence for 15 years. He said the AU force, agreed by the UN Security Council before the current hostilities, should be deployed as soon as possible. Ethiopia's Prime Minister, Meles Zenawi, has said he wants his forces out of the country in a matter of weeks. Kenya's government has shut its border with Somalia, despite criticism from the United Nations' refugee agency. BBC Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Castro Posted January 6, 2007 Does this puppet government take the people of Muqdisho (and Somalia) for fools? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
raadamiir Posted January 6, 2007 What's more interesting is which side of the city the protests are taking place. Wa South Mogdishu, have you guys asked you selfs why not the North? We can all can see the qabil that lost power in Mogdishu is pissed and everyone knows who they are. Don't like the idea of the Government backing down from these fools they should get killed if they don't move out of the way!!! We don't have time to waste on dowladiid anymore, where every they are they should be taken care off. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fabregas Posted January 6, 2007 Originally posted by raadamiir: We can all can see the qabil that lost power in Mogdishu is pissed and everyone knows who they are. Shall we wipe them out? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
raadamiir Posted January 6, 2007 Originally posted by Wadaad_Waranle: Originally posted by raadamiir: We can all can see the qabil that lost power in Mogdishu is pissed and everyone knows who they are. Shall we wipe them out? Nah I don't think they should be wiped out, They are our beloved brothers and sisters, but Intellectuals in Mogadishu need to intervene before the situation gets out of control. The Qabil that lives in South Mogadishu needs to think twice before They start unnecessary violence. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bambo Posted January 6, 2007 Raadmiir sxb no one will disarm , think about it would you disarm to your enemy . people views are same sxb both North and South of xammar dont be fooled , TFG only controls port and airports thats all . Things are back to the warlord era sxb . TFG must come up with plan to disarm warlords first before moving on to the business sectores and civilians . Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
raadamiir Posted January 6, 2007 ^^^ Which war-lords are you talking about? Cause the war-lords I know don't have any power today. They begged the Government to allow them to enter Mogdishu so they can see their families again and Geedi has allowed that and just that. The War-lord era is not back but real Dowladnimo is returning. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Captain Xalane Posted January 6, 2007 This government can't be stopped by some foolishly organized riots.What?There is a law enforcement in action,the long gone days are the days of anarchy,maybe its time they realized that.Oh yes,and i almost forgot,wasn't it during the ICU that pple were dying coz of holding riots inregards to the ban of cinemas?Aah,but that was noble innit? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Taliban Posted January 6, 2007 Originally posted by raadamiir: They begged the Government to allow them to enter Mogdishu so they can see their families again and Geedi has allowed that and just that. Aren't warlords Abdullahi Yusuf, Aidid, Qaybdid and others part of the TFG government? How can the president and ministers of the the same government beg "the Government to allow them to enter Mogdishu"? :confused: Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
