Somalia and Hostage Situation Update

 

 (Aigaforum 03/23/07)

 

 

Pilot of the Ukraine made Ilyushin cargo plane that crashed in Mogadishu had reported engine problem to controllers at Mogadishu Air port before it went down source say. All 11 Belarusian crewmembers were killed in the crash. The plane had delivered an engine to crippled Kenya Air line that was parked at Mogadishu Air port.

 

Our source also told us no Ethiopian solider was killed or wounded in the recent operation to flush terrorist and outlaws from Mogadishu. Somali Transitional Government(TFG)soldiers with out the support of the Ethiopian defense forces carried the recent operation eventhough few other media have reported othwerwise.

 

Mean while Ethiopian Defense force officials have been in constant talk with Somali elders on ways to curve the terrorist activities. Source told us the talk has been positive and will continue.

 

 

Hostages whereabouts still unknown!
After a humiliating defeat in Somalia the Eritrean government (Higdef) has resorted to kidnapping and direct provocation. Experts we talk told us that Higdef has little chance of resurrecting the defeated Somali Islamic Courts. However the same expert told us Higdef may be opening another front against Ethiopia through the Afar triangle. The recent abduction of Ethiopian hostages is a clear indication Higdef has already started to inflict pain on Ethiopia. Source told us the Ethiopian government is dumbfounded why the western media has gone quiet since the release of the western hostages. The government is clearly worried on the safety of the hostages and has asked western mission in Addis Ababa to help in the safe release of the hostages. While PM minister has clearly said this incident by itself will not trigger an all out war, our source told us this incident has effectively exhausted the patience of the government.