Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Al-Shabaab Kills Five Ethiopian Soldiers in Southern Somalia

Shabelle Media Network (Mogadishu)

Somalia: Suicide Bomber Kills Five in Baidoa, Southern Town

17 April 2012

Mogadishu — A suicide bomber killed 5 people, mostly Ethiopians in the southern Somali town of Baidoaon Tuesday, when he detonated an explosive vest as he tried to enter a government security building, officials said.

Reports said the bomber detonated his explosives in front of UN headquarters in the town, killing 5, three of them were confirmed to be Ethiopian spy while the two others were TFG troops officials.

Baidoa, located 250 kilometres (155 miles) northwest ofMogadishu, was the seat ofSomalia's transitional parliament until the hardline Shebab captured it three years ago.

Ethiopian soldiers fighting alongside Somali government forces took control of Baidoa in February.

African Union troops deployed in the town earlier this month, the first time the force has dispatched troops outside the capitalMogadishusince the 10,000-strong force was set up five years ago.

Al-Qaeda allied Shebab insurgents who launched a series of guerrilla attacks and vowed to topple the Western-backed government have immediately claimed responsibility for Tuesday's bombing.

Earlier this month a bomb blast in Baidoa's market killed at least 11 people and wounded several, an attack claimed by the Shebab.

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