Ethiopian troops arrive at Yurkud town, Gedo region

Residents in Yurkud town whom Keydmedia Somali contacted on the phone line told that the Ethiopian troops along with Somali soldiers entered in the town on Wednesday dawn and stationed in outside the town by not having talks with the people and residents in the town.

“We saw early in the morning more Somali and Ethiopian troops onboard at least 70 battle wagons, some with tanks and machineguns on their shoulders. People are extremely panicked, because of the massing allied troops on the outskirts of the town,” local residents told Keydmedia Somali by phone.

Yurkud is a strategic town that connects Gedo and Bakol region, south west Somalia.

The move came after Raskamboni militia leader, Sheik Hassan Madobe, asked Ethiopia to send its troops into Lower and Middle Jubba region, south Somalia to liberate Al shabab from the regions.

In response to Ahmed Madobe’s request, Ethiopia Prime Minister Meles Zenawi stated that the Ethiopian troops deployed in south central Somalia a preparing to increase the onslaught against Al Shabaab, so they can drive out Al Shabaab insurgents remaining in southern regions.

Keydmedia.net-Mogadishu, Somalia