Somali troops patrol city

MOGADISHU – Hundreds of Somali government soldiers, some in pick-ups outfitted with heavy weapons, deployed in Mogadishu yesterday to prevent further unrest after anti-Ethiopian protests rocked the capital, residents said.

In scenes reviving memories of the chaos so often associated with Mogadishu, but which largely stopped during six months of strict Islamist rule, crowds hurled stones and burnt tyres on Saturday in a show of discontent with the forces that ousted the Islamists last week. Witnesses said three people, including a young boy were killed when Ethiopian troops, backing the interim government, and protesters exchanged shots.A government source said only one person had been killed in gunfire between protesters and Somali police.Resident Abdifatah Abdikadir said he saw hundreds of troops in the neighbourhoods on Sunday where the protests had erupted.”Around 500 government troops have been deployed in the streets,” he said.”I also saw about 15 technicals mounted with heavy machine guns,” he said referring to pick-ups with guns.A senior security source said the troop deployment was aimed at preventing further unrest.”We have deployed so many troops in order to prevent any problems,” the source said.”The city is calm, there is no problem at all.”Nampa-ReutersWitnesses said three people, including a young boy were killed when Ethiopian troops, backing the interim government, and protesters exchanged shots.A government source said only one person had been killed in gunfire between protesters and Somali police.Resident Abdifatah Abdikadir said he saw hundreds of troops in the neighbourhoods on Sunday where the protests had erupted.”Around 500 government troops have been deployed in the streets,” he said.”I also saw about 15 technicals mounted with heavy machine guns,” he said referring to pick-ups with guns.A senior security source said the troop deployment was aimed at preventing further unrest.”We have deployed so many troops in order to prevent any problems,” the source said.”The city is calm, there is no problem at all.”Nampa-Reuters