VZCZCXRO1476
OO RUEHDE RUEHROV RUEHTRO
DE RUEHNR #1303 0801531
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 211531Z MAR 07
FM AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8434
INFO RUCNSOM/SOMALIA COLLECTIVE
RHMFIUU/CJTF HOA
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RHMFIUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL

UNCLAS NAIROBI 001303 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR AF/E AND A/S FRAZER 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PTER ASEC MOPS SO ET UG
SUBJECT:  Somali TFG Arms Sweep Begins--Heavy Fighting 
 
¶1.  (U)  Multiple sources report that heavy fighting between TFG 
forces and insurgents began in Mogadishu around 0600 this morning, 
March 21.  Press reporting indicated that Ethiopian troops and 
tanks were supporting TFG troops; but by mid-afternoon, contacts 
in Mogadishu were reporting that the Ethiopian forces were less 
visible on the streets.  Fighting was concentrated in two 
neighborhoods:  Shirkole near the Ethiopian HQ at the former 
Ministry of Defense and across town in the vicinity of the Hotel 
Ramadan; but there are reports of more widespread shelling in the 
city and of large fires in Bakara Market.  Sporadic fighting 
continues. 
 
¶2.  (U)  As of 1400 local, sources in Mogadishu were reporting up 
to 60 dead and 60 wounded.  An Ethiopian political official 
admitted to 34 Ethiopian casualties in the day's fighting. 
Insurgents claimed to have captured up to 12 TFG soldiers.  Press 
and Mogadishu contacts report that the bodies of between two and 
five dead TFG and/or Ethiopian soldiers (they were the same 
uniform) were dragged through the streets and set afire.  Pictures 
are being posted on several Somali news websites, as well as on Al 
Jazeera. 
 
¶3.  (U)  According to local sources in Mogadishu, TFG forces 
initially seemed to have the upper hand, but insurgents were seen 
to be gaining by mid-afternoon.  These sources reported that the 
TFG had not made any statements about the day's events, leaving 
the residents to wonder whether the insurgents might actually have 
defeated government forces. 
 
¶4.  (SBU)  Comment.  The Somali Ambassador to Kenya stated at a 
press conference today in Nairobi that this battle was the 
beginning of the long-expected effort by the TFG to confiscate 
civilian arms in Mogadishu.  Numerous sources were indicating that 
this planned operation was engendering wide-spread popular anger 
in the city toward the TFG.  Whether or not the TFG is ultimately 
successful in this endeavor, popular resentment could make it 
difficult to hold a meaningful National Reconciliation Conference 
as scheduled in mid-April. 
 
¶5.  (SBU)  Comment continued.  The reported absence of Ethiopian 
combat support for TFG forces will make it difficult for the 
government's mostly inexperienced troops to make headway against a 
determined resistance from insurgent militia. 
 
Ranneberger