Hargeisa Domestic Service (in Somali) — 1230 GMT

[Excerpts] Speaking to reporters of the Ministry of Information and National Guidance, a spokesman for the Western Somalia Liberation Front (WSLF) has said the flag of the freedom fighters was officially hoisted in the town of Dagahabur the day before yesterday after the town had been liberated from the clutches of the shaky colonialist Addis Ababa regime.

The liberation of the town was achieved through muscle and the barrel of the gun.

The comrade also stated that the freedom fighters crushed 4,500 men, who were either captured or killed by the WSLF. All officers were killed. He also said nine planes were shot down during the battle — eight fighters and one transport. The WSLF also destroyed all the combat vehicles and weapons of the reluctant Addis Ababa troops.

The spokesman added that the WSLF had launched continual attacks on the Mengistu Haile Mariam regime’s reluctant troops in Dagahabur since 12 July.

When a number of Addis Ababa soldiers stationed in Dagahabur leaped from their defense lines near the town and fled to the Jigjiga-Dagahabur road, the freedom fighters crushed 1,500 of them. They were members of the 11th Brigade of the 3rd Army Division, and poor but proud peasants who had been forced to leave their farms.

The spokesman said that the troops of which Mengistu is so proud had been dealt heavy blows.

In fierce fighting between the WSLF and the fleeing Addis Ababa troops in (Maleico?) on 2 August, the WSLF killed many soldiers and captured 80 others. The spokesman said that the WSLF had burnt out 7 armored cars and 22 other vehicles belonging to the feeble troops of the Addis Ababa regime.

The gallant freedom fighters also seized 200 rifles and many rounds of ammunition.

The spokesman, who was speaking to reporters from the Ministry of Information and National Guidance, said the freedom fighters were now tracking down soldiers of the Addis Ababa regime who had fled the battle ground.

He said the Addis Ababa soldiers should surrender to the WSLF to save themselves from the bullets of the freedom fighters.