'Over 1,000 killed in Somali clashes'
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
RECENT heavy clashes between Ethiopian forces and Islamist fighters backed by clan militia killed more than a thousand people in the Somali capital, Hawiye clan elders said yesterday.
The fighting, which erupted late last month when Ethiopian forces launched a bloody crackdown on suspected insurgents in the Somali capital, also left 4,334 people wounded, Hussein Aden Korgab, the Hawiye clan spokesman, told AFP.
"Our assessment team counted 1,086 people killed ... (and) 4,334 wounded," he said.
Kograb said the death toll was collected by a clan panel that was formed to hold talks with the Ethiopian forces after active fighting subsided.
"We assessed battle fields, spoke to civilians, visited hospitals and areas that were affected by the clashes," he said when asked how the figure was reached.
Without giving specifics he added that damage to property by the four days of heavy fighting was an estimated "US$1.5 billion (€1.1 billion) ".
Yesterday, Ethiopian commanders refused to meet Hawiye elders for routine peace negotiations unless the commanders of the insurgents were present.
"They demanded the commanders of the insurgents must be included in the talks then we can go ahead (with negotiations)," said Mohamed Bashir, an elder.
Mohamed said the elders asked to have to discuss the fresh condition, which looked unlikely to be met as the rebels commanders are elusive.
Humanitarian groups have described the clashes, which occurred mainly in southern Mogadishu, as the worst in 15 years.
A local rights group, which compiled initial figures from hospitals and witnesses, said 381 civilians had died and 565 were wounded in the four days of clashes between March 29 and April 1. Most of the dead have buried.
AFP
The fighting, which erupted late last month when Ethiopian forces launched a bloody crackdown on suspected insurgents in the Somali capital, also left 4,334 people wounded, Hussein Aden Korgab, the Hawiye clan spokesman, told AFP.
"Our assessment team counted 1,086 people killed ... (and) 4,334 wounded," he said.
Kograb said the death toll was collected by a clan panel that was formed to hold talks with the Ethiopian forces after active fighting subsided.
"We assessed battle fields, spoke to civilians, visited hospitals and areas that were affected by the clashes," he said when asked how the figure was reached.
Without giving specifics he added that damage to property by the four days of heavy fighting was an estimated "US$1.5 billion (€1.1 billion) ".
Yesterday, Ethiopian commanders refused to meet Hawiye elders for routine peace negotiations unless the commanders of the insurgents were present.
"They demanded the commanders of the insurgents must be included in the talks then we can go ahead (with negotiations)," said Mohamed Bashir, an elder.
Mohamed said the elders asked to have to discuss the fresh condition, which looked unlikely to be met as the rebels commanders are elusive.
Humanitarian groups have described the clashes, which occurred mainly in southern Mogadishu, as the worst in 15 years.
A local rights group, which compiled initial figures from hospitals and witnesses, said 381 civilians had died and 565 were wounded in the four days of clashes between March 29 and April 1. Most of the dead have buried.
AFP
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