Somalia truce halts fighting in Mogadishu

Ethiopian military officials and elders of the dominant clan in Somalia’s capital have agreed to a truce following two days of fighting during which dozens died.

The United Nations appealed for “all combatants to desist from further acts of aggression and to respect civilians life,” in a statement issued late yesterday.

The Mogadishu truce was to take effect at noon (9am Irish time) today, said Uwas Abdi Dahir, one of the elders involved in the negotiations.

Another elder, Mohammed Ibrahim Aden, said 25 Hawiye clan elders met with “several Ethiopian (military) officials” late yesterday and agreed to stop hostilities and begin talks to resolve differences.

“We have asked the Ethiopian officials to pull their troops back from front line areas and force government troops to do the same,” said Aden.

“We have also promised on our part to pull our fighters back from the battle fronts.”

Early today, sporadic gunfire was heard in southern Mogadishu, around the former defence ministry building, which has been one of the front lines in two days of fighting.