Ethiopian armoured drive halted -Somalia

Press, 21 February 1978, Page 9

Ethiopian armoured drive halted -Somalia

NZPA-Reuter Mogadishu Somali forces have halted Ethiopia’s armoured offensive on a front in the rugged Ahmar Mountains about 30km. east of the citadel of Harar, Somali military commanders told reporters who visited the Ogaden battle area at the weekend.

The Ethiopians, who the Somalis say are guided and aided by Cuban and Russian combat units, are trying to drive east from Harar to Jijiga.

But commanders said the Somali forces were better adapted to the mountain terrain than the mechanised forces of their foes.

Ethiopia’s other main thrust, north-east along the rail line towards the Red Sea republic of Djibouti, has also been halted, according to the Western Somalia Liberation Front, which Somalia is supporting. The Ethiopians were halted at Harar and the Somalis have been counter-at-tacking back towards Dire Dawa, W.S.L.F. officials said.

Somali commanders told reporters that fighting on the front between Harar and Jijiga was concentrated around the pattered town of Babile, now empty of people after aerial and artillery bombardment.

They said their positions had been hammered by jet attacks until last Thursday. Somali fighters scattered among the mountain passes were raggedly-dressed but apparently well-disciplined, reporters said.

Wearing a motley mixture of uniforms and traditional dress, they carried a variety of old and new equipment, some of it captured from the Ethiopians.