Somalia: Civilians killed after ambush by Al Shabaab near Baidoa 12 Nov 12, 2012 - 11:18:35 AM
BAIDOA, Somalia Nov 12 2012 (Garowe Online) – At least 10 people including civilians were killed after an ambush by Al Shabaab insurgents on a Ethiopian military convoy traveling in the outskirts of Baidoa capital of Bay region, Garowe Online reports.
The clashes sparked after an Ethiopian convoy was hit with a roadside bomb planted by Al Shabaab fighters who attacked the foreign troops with heavy artillery near Awdinle outside of Baidoa.
According to local sources, the clashes lasted for many hours after Ethiopian troops answered with their own artillery. At least 10 people were killed 3 of who were civilians, according to Baidoa authorities.
There were three other injured although the Ethiopian casualties were not confirmed.
Some reports indicate that Ethiopian forces fired indiscriminately in the town of Awdinle after the ambush killing civilians.
Chief of Police for Bay region, Col. Mahad Abdirahman Adan, stated that civilians took the brunt of the devastation.
“Many civilians were injured and some killed in the clashes, they were innocent of crime,” said Col. Adan.
Police in Bay region are conducting investigations as to how the the civilians were killed in the clashes.
According to local sources, the Al Shabaab fighters escaped after the attack on Monday.
The brazen morning attack on the Ethiopian convoy by Al Shabaab is one of the first attacks is many weeks and has reportedly reignited Ethiopia’s military conquest of towns and villages in Bay region.
Baidoa, was captured in February, by Somali government troops alongside the Ethiopian military who captured the city after Al Shabaab officials and fighters fled.
