This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/africa/6944024.stm

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
War crimes 'rampant' in Somalia War crimes 'rampant' in Somalia
(10 minutes later)
All sides have committed war crimes in Somalia's conflict this year, according to lobby group Human Rights Watch.All sides have committed war crimes in Somalia's conflict this year, according to lobby group Human Rights Watch.
It says the worst abuses have been by Ethiopian soldiers, who are supporting the government against insurgents.It says the worst abuses have been by Ethiopian soldiers, who are supporting the government against insurgents.
Ethiopians have often indiscriminately attacked civilian areas and looted hospitals, its report says.Ethiopians have often indiscriminately attacked civilian areas and looted hospitals, its report says.
While insurgents have fired mortars into residential areas and executed civilians, since Islamists were driven from power in Mogadishu last December.While insurgents have fired mortars into residential areas and executed civilians, since Islamists were driven from power in Mogadishu last December.
'White phosphorous' Both Ethiopia and the Somali government have denied the claims, reports Reuters news agency.
The 113-page report Shell-Shocked: Civilians Under Siege in Mogadishu also says that Ethiopia has used white phosphorous bombs against insurgents and civilians during intense fighting in April. The UN Security council's indifference to this crisis has only added to the tragedy Ken Roth, HRW "The insurgency placed civilians at grave risk by deploying among them," said Human Rights Watch executive director Ken Roth.
The UN Security council's indifference to this crisis has only added to the tragedy Ken Roth, HRW "Witnesses described the impact of the weapon as it lightened the whole of Mogadishu, describing the bodies of the victims as having been 'melted' and that the soil and the surrounding area were white in colour," said the report, launched in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi. "But that is no justification for Ethiopia's calculated shelling and rocketing of whole neighborhoods."
The Ethiopian government has dismissed the reports as baseless and denied that they stockpile, use or produce white phosphorous bombs. But these charges were denied by Ethiopia.
But Human Rights Watch says chemical analysis on soil samples from the impact area shows that the phosphorus residue was 117 times higher than what could be expected from a non-contaminated soil sample. "As usual, Human Rights Watch is engaged in its now well-known fabrication, and in misinforming the world in unsubstantiated fairy-tales," Bereket Simon, special adviser to Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, told Reuters.
Somali government troops played a "secondary" role, backing up the Ethiopians but failed to help civilians, the report said.
More than 1,000 people were killed in the heaviest fighting since 1991, as Ethiopian and government troops tried to drive the insurgents out of Mogadishu.More than 1,000 people were killed in the heaviest fighting since 1991, as Ethiopian and government troops tried to drive the insurgents out of Mogadishu.
"The use of area bombardments in populated areas and the failure to cancel attacks once the harm to civilians became known is evidence of criminal intent necessary to demonstrate the commission of war crimes," the report said. Indifference
Journalist Mahad Ahmed Elmi was shot dead on his way to workThe UN says some 400,000 people have fled the violence in Mogadishu in the past four months. The UN says some 400,000 people have fled the violence in Mogadishu in the past four months.
HRW wants the international community to do more to end the violence. Journalist Mahad Ahmed Elmi was shot dead on his way to workHRW says the international community has ignored the suffering in Somalia.
"The UN Security council's indifference to this crisis has only added to the tragedy," said Human Rights Watch executive director Ken Roth."The UN Security council's indifference to this crisis has only added to the tragedy," said Human Rights Watch executive director Ken Roth.
Mr Roth urged the Security Council to make strong provisions to protect civilians when it discusses proposals to turn the 1,500 strong African Union force into a UN peacekeeping mission.Mr Roth urged the Security Council to make strong provisions to protect civilians when it discusses proposals to turn the 1,500 strong African Union force into a UN peacekeeping mission.
Since the end of the April offensive, insurgents have continued to stage deadly attacks on an almost daily basis.Since the end of the April offensive, insurgents have continued to stage deadly attacks on an almost daily basis.
Over the weekend, two prominent journalists were killed.Over the weekend, two prominent journalists were killed.
A reconciliation conference is under way in Mogadishu but Islamists and the city's clan elders have refused to attend unless the Ethiopians leave the country.A reconciliation conference is under way in Mogadishu but Islamists and the city's clan elders have refused to attend unless the Ethiopians leave the country.