Mogadishu Voice of the Somali Republic (in Somali) 1700 GMT

Reliable sources have said General Aideed has been seriously injured during the latest fighting between the peace-supporting coalition forces of USC/SSA (United Somali Congress/Somali Salvation Alliance), USC/SNA (Somali National Alliance) and USC/PM (Peace Movement) in Mecca and Medina districts and a gang of bandits he was leading.

The sources said Aidid was now being kept at a house near Villa Somalia in the hope of flying him out to Nairobi for treatment because of an apparent fear of him being treated by Somali Doctors in Mogadishu hospitals.

Doctors treating Aidid said that he was hit by two bullets, one injuring the backbone, and the other below the liver and that his condition was unstable. Doctors tried to fly him out of the country, but this was later ruled out because of his past crimes against the UN. They said if Aidid’s condition deteriorated further, it was planned to take him immediately to a village between Gelinsoor and Gaalkacyo District, Mudug region.

Aidid has now handed over his responsibilites to Mohamed Farah Jum’aleh and General Arey.

_{FBIS-AFR-96-145, 26 July 1996, p. 14}