Seven Killed in Heavy Fighting in Somalia

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, July 02, 2002

Seven Killed in Heavy Fighting in Somalia

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At least seven people were killedand more than seven others were wounded when a heavy fighting broke out Monday between rival militias in the heart of Baidoa town, 245 kilometers northwest of capital Mogadishu.

According to eyewitnesses, the exchange of the heavy gunfire started at a tax collection point close to the police station of the town where the transit heavy duty trucks are also kept over night before they proceed to their destinations to the other regions.

The dead included two elders who tried to stop the fighting anda lady nearby, said the eyewitnesses who do not want to be named.

The other four dead are the combat militias from the two sides.Also five among the wounded are the combat militias.

The reason for this fighting is not yet stated officially, butaccording to sources close to the headquarters of the Rahanwein Resistance Amy (RRA) controlling the region, the leadership of thetown has tried to change several employees working on the revenue collection point at the customs where all of the passing by trucksare taxed.

Those at the revenue collection point have refused the order.

As a result of that denial, heavily armed militias have arrivedat the point and each side demonstrated its power, which resulted in the flare up of the fighting.

The political differences between the two sides has been deteriorating in the last two months following the announcement ofthe Southwestern Government of Somalia.

The government of Ethiopia has tried to mediate between the twosides and held a meeting for 33 members of the RRA in Ethiopia last month, but has concluded in a total failure the same as the mediation by Ethiopia between Colonel Abdullahi Yussuf Ahmed and his rival Jama Ali Jama in the semi-autonomous region of Puntland.

Both Puntland and the RRA are supported by Ethiopia against thegovernment in Mogadishu. Now the latest reports from the town of Baidoa indicate that the town is peaceful, but very tense after the elders have intervened temporarily.

The fighting has also affected the business movements in the town as the main market and food stores were closed down for fear of looting.

Late Monday afternoon, some of the businessmen have started reopening their shops, but the tension remains very high as there is no solution in sight for the crises in the country.

Monday's fighting broke out at a time when the whole nation is celebrating for 42nd anniversary of Somalia's independence day.

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