Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07NAIROBI905
2007-02-26 13:14:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Nairobi
Cable title:
Somali Insurgents Attack Ethiopians
how-toVZCZCXRO7611 OO RUEHDE RUEHROV RUEHTRO DE RUEHNR #0905 0571314 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 261314Z FEB 07 FM AMEMBASSY NAIROBI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7746 INFO RUCNSOM/SOMALIA COLLECTIVE RHMFIUU/CJTF HOA RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RHMFIUU/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
UNCLAS NAIROBI 000905
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/E AND A/S FRAZER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/26/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER ASEC MOPS SO ET
SUBJECT: Somali Insurgents Attack Ethiopians
UNCLAS NAIROBI 000905
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/E AND A/S FRAZER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/26/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER ASEC MOPS SO ET
SUBJECT: Somali Insurgents Attack Ethiopians
1. Somali insurgents attacked Ethiopian forces camped at the former
Defense Ministry building in Mogadishu on February 23 between 1730
and 1800 local time. In what sources describe as a well-planned
attack, insurgents caught the Ethiopians off guard with mortars and
automatic weapons fire. The attackers escaped.
2. There are no reports of casualties among either the Ethiopians or
the attackers. However, according to news reports 10 civilians -
including four children - were killed and at least 15 were injured by
Ethiopian artillery fired in retaliation.
3. The attack came as the Ugandan Minister of Defense led a
delegation to Mogadishu in preparation for the deployment of 1,500
Ugandan peacekeeping troops as part of the AU/UN approved AMISOM.
Initial telephonic reports indicated that the Ugandan minister was at
the Ethiopian compound at the time of the attack and that an
Ethiopian general had been killed, but neither assertion appears
true.
4. Sources report that Mogadishu was calm on Saturday and Sunday but
that unknown numbers of residents continued to evacuate the city.
RANNEBERGER
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/E AND A/S FRAZER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/26/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER ASEC MOPS SO ET
SUBJECT: Somali Insurgents Attack Ethiopians
1. Somali insurgents attacked Ethiopian forces camped at the former
Defense Ministry building in Mogadishu on February 23 between 1730
and 1800 local time. In what sources describe as a well-planned
attack, insurgents caught the Ethiopians off guard with mortars and
automatic weapons fire. The attackers escaped.
2. There are no reports of casualties among either the Ethiopians or
the attackers. However, according to news reports 10 civilians -
including four children - were killed and at least 15 were injured by
Ethiopian artillery fired in retaliation.
3. The attack came as the Ugandan Minister of Defense led a
delegation to Mogadishu in preparation for the deployment of 1,500
Ugandan peacekeeping troops as part of the AU/UN approved AMISOM.
Initial telephonic reports indicated that the Ugandan minister was at
the Ethiopian compound at the time of the attack and that an
Ethiopian general had been killed, but neither assertion appears
true.
4. Sources report that Mogadishu was calm on Saturday and Sunday but
that unknown numbers of residents continued to evacuate the city.
RANNEBERGER