Somali Border Town Bulo Hawo Sees Calm After Day's Fighting

Home>>World

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, May 17, 2002

Somali Border Town Bulo Hawo Sees Calm After Day's Fighting

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

The Somali town of Bulo Hawo along the border with both Ethiopia and Kenya remains calm on Thursday after a day of serious armed confrontation between Ethiopian forces who crossed into Somalia and local militias led by Colonel Abdirizak Issak Bihi.

Colonel Abdirizak Issak Bihi sympathized by the Jubba Valey Alliance controlling the southern port town of Kismaio has been fighting against the Ethiopian-backed militias known as the Somali Reconciliation and Restoration Council (SRRC).

Bulo Hawo itself still remains isolated from the rest of Somalia as all of its telephone lines and VHF radio went dead Wednesday after the Ethiopian forces started shelling the town in their efforts of dislodging or crushing the militias of Colonel Bihi who controlled the town for only ten days.

An old man who fled Bulo Hawo, but returned there Wednesday afternoon and went back to the Kenyan border town of Mandhera again Thursday, said the town now looks like a ghost town with almost no life in it.

"You can only see those armed militias of the SRRC," he said.

This man who did not want to be named said he has also seen seven houses destroyed by fire and several others by the shelling.

"I also have seen several food stores and shops with their doors wide open after they have been looted during the fighting yesterday and last night," said the old man.

According to the reports from Mandhera, most of the Ethiopian troops who invaded the town Wednesday went back, but they left a few of them at two control checkpoints outside the town, and the rest is now being controlled by the pro-Ethiopian militias of the SRRC.

The fate of Colonel Abdirizak Issak Bihi is not known, however reports reaching Mogadishu since Wednesday night indicated that he was dead.

But some relatives of Colonel Bihi in Mandhera told Xinhua on Thursday that they are confident that he is not dead.

"We heard that he is still alive safe and sound in the hands of the Ethiopian troops in Sufka town, (the Ethiopian town just across the border on the opposite side of Somalia), " said a lady.

The transitional national government of Somalia has also reacted to the Ethiopian incursions into Somalia on Thursday.

Prime Minister Hassan Abshir Farah, who held a press conference in the regional administration headquarters of Mogadishu has accused Ethiopia is deliberately attacking Somalia.

Farah said Ethiopia is undermining all political and reconciliation process by fighting the Somali government.

Questions?Comments? Click here

Heavy fighting flares in Southwestern Somalia on Tuesday

Feature: Heavy Fighting Continues in Northern Somalia

China to Launch First Space Solar Telescope in 2005 ( 20 Messages)

Desertification Threat Advancing on Beijing ( 15 Messages)

China Is Among Countries with Wide Income Gap ( 60 Messages)

FM Spokesman on Anti-China Items In U.S. Defense Bill ( 75 Messages)

Spirit of May 4 Movement Still Inspires Chinese Youth ( 75 Messages)

China Launches Two Satellites ( 10 Messages)

Harvard Project in China Violates Farmers' Rights ( 28 Messages)

FM Spokesman on Consulate Intrusion Accident ( 34 Messages)

EP Always Picks on China with Cynical Remarks ( 20 Messages)