MOGADISHU, 29 March 2005 — Fifteen people were killed and more than 30 wounded in bloody fighting in the southwestern Somali town of Baidoa, sources in the area said yesterday.
The fighting erupted between militias run by two parliamentarians in a dispute over whether the exiled Somali government, which is now based in Kenya, should be located in Baidoa.
Most of the country’s warlords are MPs and Cabinet members.
Last week, Somali MPs backed a proposal that the government should be based not in the capital, Mogadishu, but in Baidoa and Jowhar.
On Saturday, there were celebrations to mark this decision in Baidoa. However, one powerful warlord apparently ordered his troops to attack those who were out on the streets and a fierce gun battle broke out.
Baidoa is now in the hands of the militia led by Muhammad Habsadeh. The militia commanded by Somalia’s agriculture minister and MP, Hassan Shargudud was forced to leave the town. Sources said that Habsadeh took control of the town with help of another warlord Yusuf Indhadde, who controls the neighboring region of Lower Shabelle.
