Mogadishu Radio HornAfrik (in Somali)

Units of Ethiopian troops were last night secretly deployed in some areas of Bay Region [south-central Somalia], taking advantage of the curfew imposed on Baidoa town. Seynab Abukar Muhammad sent us this report a few hours ago:

[Muhammad] As confirmed to HornAfrik by reliable sources, the forces of the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia [TFG], while taking advantage of last night’s curfew in Baydhabo, led the Ethiopian troops who arrived here yesterday, to other areas such as Manyafuulka and Buur Hakab. The troops used a route known as Musal.

The new localities where the Ethiopian troops have been deployed to, include areas visited by forces of the Union of Islamic Courts [UIC] a few days ago. The visit to these areas by the UIC created fear within the ranks of the TFG leaders, but UIC officials have said their visit had nothing to do with [waging] war against the TFG.

It is now confirmed that Ethiopian troops, in official military fatigues, are based in Baydhabo. The troops have arrived with 140 military tanks.