Ethiopia: Fierce Battle reported in the outskirts of Fiiq
African Path, MN - January 2, 2008

Reports that reached our service desk from the city of Fiiq confirm a fierce battle that took place in the outskirts of the city on Wednesday December 26th, 2007. It is reported that this fierce firefight took place in an area known as Cagajiid, which is about fifteen kilometers east of the city.

As indicated by eyewitnesses on the ground, many Tigray People Liberation Front, TPLF, militias and a local militia consisting mainly of civil servants of the so-called local administration, left the city for Cagajiid where it was reported that a large contingent of the Ogaden National Liberation Front, ONLF, military personnel were present at the time.

Locals reported that ONLF reconnaissance units succeeded in getting information of the impending attack plans of the TPLF and the local militia, which was spearheaded by the man known as Abdi Ileey who claims to be the head of the security bureau for the local administration ...