The forces of Somalia's Transitional Federal Government (TFG) on
Wednesday controlled two more towns, 40 to 60 km away from the
capital Mogadishu, the official Ethiopian news agency reported.
TFG Vice Defense Minister Salad Ali Jelle was quoted as saying
the TFG forces controlled Bal'at town, some 40 km north of
Mogadishu and Lego town, 60 km southwest of the capital.
Several soldiers of the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) have been
killed in the fights to control the two towns, Jelle told a press
conference in Baidoa, the seat of the TFG.
The Ethiopian forces provided training and other support to the
TFG in the fights to control the towns, he said.
Jelle said UIC fighters began fleeing from towns in disarray,
adding that UIC fighters also engaged in clashes among
themselves.
According to him, about 1,200 UIC fighters escaped by ship from
Mogadishu to other countries.
He said a second ship was loading UIC fighters at Mogadishu port
on Wednesday afternoon.
Jelle said UIC fighters in Kismayo port were fleeing to
Mogadishu.
Meanwhile, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
said that the worst fighting in a decade in central and southern
Somalia has caused hundreds of casualties and is forcing thousands
to flee their homes.
Over the past few days, hospitals and other medical facilities
in the area have admitted more than 800 wounded people, the
Geneva-based humanitarian agency said in a statement.
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The agency has provided a number of medical facilities treating the
injured with first-aid kits and surgical supplies from stocks
pre-positioned in Somalia prior to the outbreak of the
hostilities.
"The ICRC is extremely concerned about civilians caught up in
the fighting, wounded people and people detained in connection with
the fighting," the statement said.
The ICRC again called on all parties involved to spare civilians
and to ensure that captured and wounded fighters are treated
humanely and receive adequate medical attention, and that medical
staff, hospitals and clinics are respected and protected.
"In cooperation with Somali Red Crescent Society staff, our
people are working tirelessly to assist the civilian population and
wounded persons throughout the area," said Pascal Hundt, head of
the ICRC's Somalia delegation.
"We are urging all parties to ensure that medical staff and
humanitarian workers can perform their tasks freely and safely," he
added.
The ICRC has regular contacts with all parties to the conflict.
It has received assurances that it can safely operate throughout
Somalia and that its planes can land there.
In the coming days, ICRC aircraft will fly to several
destinations in Somalia to deliver surgical and other medical
supplies.
(Xinhua News Agency December 28, 2006)
