U N I T E D   N A T I O N S
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Integrated Regional Information Network for Central and Eastern Africa

Tel: +254 2 622147
Fax: +254 2 622129
e-mail: irin@ocha.unon.org


HORN OF AFRICA
IRIN-HOA Weekly Round-Up 427
3 - 9 May 2008


CONTENTS:

SOMALIA: Amnesty report "scratches surface of atrocities"
SOMALIA: Hundreds displaced in fighting over water and pasture
SOMALIA: Cost of food prompts demo in capital


SEE ALSO:

SUDAN: Of rats, stars and climate change
[http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=78077 ]

SUDAN: Bombings in Darfur cast doubt on resolving crisis
[http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=78072 ]

SUDAN: Peace deal in "critical phase" as donors meet
[http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=78071 ]

GLOBAL: Six million children "need not die every year"
[http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=78087 ]

GLOBAL: Canada to provide cash, not commodities in switch of food aid 
policy
[http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=78053 ]



SOMALIA: Amnesty report "scratches surface of atrocities"

The Somali government denied claims by a rights group that its forces 
and their Ethiopian allies were committing atrocities against the 
civilian population - even as a civil society source said the report did 
not go far enough.

Government spokesman Abdi Haji Gobdon told IRIN on 7 May that in a war 
situation "some people may get caught in a crossfire but no civilian is 
deliberately targeted", insisting that neither the TFG forces nor their 
Ethiopian allies committed atrocities.

[Full report: 
http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=78084]


SOMALIA: Hundreds displaced in fighting over water and pasture

Hundreds of families have been displaced in Somalia's southwestern 
region of Gedo after two days of inter-clan fighting in which 13 people 
were killed and 24 wounded, according to locals.

The fighting, mostly around Luq, the district capital - 500km southwest 
of Mogadishu - broke out on 3 and 4 May between the Dir sub-clan of the 
Gaadsen and the Rahanwyen sub-clan of the Ma'alin Weyne.

[Full report: 
http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=78066]


SOMALIA: Cost of food prompts demo in capital

Many thousands of Somalis took to the streets of the capital, Mogadishu, 
on 5 May, shutting down most of the city in a protest against high food 
prices and traders' refusal to accept old Somali shilling notes, 
witnesses said.

Government security forces guarding an official building shot dead two 
protestors, according to several witnesses.

[Full report: 
http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=78049]


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