Somalia: Insurgents capture strategic town

  1. Posted on Wednesday 4 November 2009 - 17:16
    Muhyadin
    Muhyadin Ahmed Roble, AfricaNews reporter in Nairobi, Kenya
    Somali insurgents have recaptured the strategic town of Beledweyn in Hiran region after heavy fighting broke out between the Somali government forces and Islamists rebel group. Five people were killed and nine others wounded on Wednesday at Jente Kundishe, some 206 miles (332Km) north of Mogadishu.
    Somalia fighters_Mohammed Odowa
    A resident in Beledweyn Jama Osman Ali told AfricaNews on phone that Hizbul Islam - one of the rebel groups - attacked the base of the Somali government forces outside of the town.

    Muse Abdi Arale, commander of Hizbul Islam said they attacked the main base of the government forces in central Somalia, adding "we recaptured the strategic town of Beledweyn".

    Arale accused Ethiopian forces for starting the fight.

    Spokesperson of the government Salad Hared denied the rebels’ claims. Calm has returned to the area.

    Beledweyn is a strategic town sharing borders with Ethiopia. It has witnessed a number of deadly clashes between insurgents and Somali government troops.

    Somalia has not had an effective central government since warlords overthrew dictator Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991.

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