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Somalis protest over Ethiopians Somalis protest over Ethiopians
(about 5 hours later)
Hundreds of people have taken to the streets of the Somali capital Mogadishu in protest at the presence of Ethiopian forces backing the interim government.Hundreds of people have taken to the streets of the Somali capital Mogadishu in protest at the presence of Ethiopian forces backing the interim government.
Witnesses said Ethiopian troops fired in the air to disperse the crowds, as youths burnt tyres and threw stones. Witnesses said security forces fired in the air to disperse crowds, as youths burnt tyres and threw stones.
A BBC correspondent in Mogadishu says one person has died and at least 10 others have been injured. At least one civilian was killed and several others injured by gunfire, but it was not clear who was responsible.
The protests came as the government indefinitely postponed a disarmament programme in the capital. The protests came as the government indefinitely postponed a forcible disarmament programme in the capital.
Elders of the biggest clan in Mogadishu complained that the programme was one-sided and did not apply outside the capital.
Location of militias and US Navy patrols
The original deadline for handing in weapons was Thursday but few people have done so.The original deadline for handing in weapons was Thursday but few people have done so.
We don't need the Ethiopians, they must leave Bile AbdiProtester Fragile peace fuels fears African press frets
Observers say Mogadishu is awash with weapons, and violence has increased since Ethiopian-led troops ousted Islamist militias.Observers say Mogadishu is awash with weapons, and violence has increased since Ethiopian-led troops ousted Islamist militias.
Meanwhile the US has agreed to provide $10m (£5.2m) towards the funding of a proposed 8,000-strong African Union (AU) peacekeeping force for Somalia. 'Inhuman action'
The money is part of a total of $40m that the US Government has pledged to support Somalia's efforts to restore stability. A 13-year-old boy was killed when government forces opened fire on demonstrators, his family told AFP news agency.
Assistant US Secretary of State Jendayi Frazer is expected to visit Mogadishu on Sunday. SOMALIA IN NUMBERS Ethiopia troops: 8,000-15,000Government troops: 10,000Islamists: 600 near Kenyan border; 3,500 around MogadishuRecently displaced: 30,000Refugees in Kenya: 160,000 Estimated numbers
Sources: Somali government, UN, correspondents href="/1/hi/world/africa/6226449.stm" class="">Fragile peace fuels fears href="/1/hi/world/africa/6227437.stm" class="">African press frets
'No surrender' "Some government troops and Ethiopian forces opened fire to disperse the crowds and my son was hit by a bullet," Omar Halame Rage told AFP.
Residents of the capital came out onto the streets, shouting "Down, down with Ethiopia". "This is unacceptable and an inhuman action. We don't need those Ethiopian forces with their government soldiers if they are shooting our children," he is quoted as saying.
href="#Somalia" class="bodl">Location of militias and US Navy patrols The Somali police said protesters threw stones at government forces, provoking the shooting that they said was an act of self defence.
Protesters voiced their opposition to the disarmament programme. Saturday's riots are the third to hit Mogadishu since Ethiopian and Somali troops arrived on 28 December, ousting Islamist forces that had taken control in June.
"We don't want a one-sided disarmament ... we don't need the Ethiopians, they must leave our country," said Bile Abdi, quoted by AFP news agency. The Islamists have vowed to wage a guerrilla war against the Ethiopians. Al-Qaeda number two Ayman al-Zawahiri has reportedly urged the Islamist militias to fight the "crusaders".
SOMALIA IN NUMBERS Ethiopia troops: 8,000-15,000Government troops: 10,000Islamists: 600 near Kenyan border; 3,500 around MogadishuRecently displaced: 30,000Refugees in Kenya: 160,000 Estimated numbers
Sources: Somali government, UN, correspondents 		"I call upon the Muslim nation in Somalia to remain in the new battlefield that is one of the crusader battlefields that are being launched by America and its allies and the United Nations against Islam and Muslims," a five-minute tape, posted on a website used by militants, said.
Several said the programme should cover the whole country, so that all clans throughout the country could be disarmed simultaneously. 'Real chance'
Ethiopian troops supporting the transitional government ousted Islamist forces less than a week ago. On Friday, Somali interim President Abdullahi Yusuf called for a "speedy deployment" of the AU force, agreed by the UN Security Council before the current hostilities.
But on Friday, al-Qaeda number two Ayman al-Zawahiri reportedly urged the Islamist militias to fight "crusaders".
"I speak to you today as the crusader invader forces of Ethiopia violate the soil of the beloved Muslim Somalia," the five-minute tape, posted on a website used by militants, said.
"I call upon the Muslim nation in Somalia to remain in the new battlefield that is one of the crusader battlefields that are being launched by America and its allies and the United Nations against Islam and Muslims."
'Rare chance'
On Friday, Somali interim President Abdullahi Yusuf called for a "speedy deployment" of peacekeepers in his war-torn country.
Speaking at a Nairobi meeting, he said there was a rare chance for a real political breakthrough in Somalia, plagued by violence for 15 years.Speaking at a Nairobi meeting, he said there was a rare chance for a real political breakthrough in Somalia, plagued by violence for 15 years.
He said the AU force, agreed by the UN Security Council before the current hostilities, should be deployed as soon as possible. The US has agreed to provide $10m (£5.2m) towards the funding of the 8,000-strong peacekeeping force - part of $40m pledged to support Somalia's efforts to restore stability.
Ethiopia's Prime Minister, Meles Zenawi, has said he wants his forces out of the country in a matter of weeks.Ethiopia's Prime Minister, Meles Zenawi, has said he wants his forces out of the country in a matter of weeks.
Kenya's government has shut its border with Somalia, despite criticism from the United Nations' refugee agency.Kenya's government has shut its border with Somalia, despite criticism from the United Nations' refugee agency.
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