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Public demonstrations protesting the alleged presence of Ethiopian troops have been held in Kismayo, Lower Juba region, and Garbahaarey, Gedo region, in southern and southwestern Somalia on Friday. The demonstrations have been reported in local Somali newspapers, and were confirmed to IRIN by government sources.
According ‘Ayaamaha’, a Mogadishu-based daily, protests in Kismayo were addressed by General Ahmed Warsame who heads an alliance controlling the southern port since June 1999, when General Mohamed Said Hersi “Morgan” was chased out. The Garbahaarey protests were addressed by the Minster of Transport of the Transitional government, Abdi Gulled, who is from Gedo region, and the Ugas Omar Ugas Hersi, the highest traditional leader of the Marehan clan.
The Ethiopian government has angrily denied the presence of any Ethiopian soldiers in Somalia.
This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions