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Somalis accuse the French of killing civilians during rescue operation
Al-Shabab demands release of Jihadis in exchange of French hostage. Residents describe ill-planned operation.
The Islamist warriors of the Somali Al-Shabab militia repeated that the Frenchman they've held hostage since 2009 — and whom French commandos tried to rescue in a failed operation — is still alive, and ask the release of "Jihadis" arrested around the world in exchange for his life, said this Sunday the French Defense Minister, Jean-Yves Le Drien.
Initially, the French government informed that Denis Allex (alias of a secret services member) had been murdered by his captors during the operation, while French President François Hollande lamented the “sacrifice of two soldiers”. Le Drien corrected afterwards: there's one dead troop and another disappeared — Al-Shabab has said that it captured him (wounded) and he'll be trialed today.
French authorities have also announced the deaths of “17 terrorists” and said the failure was due to “stronger resistance than expected” that they said was met. Residents told the Association France Presse that the commandos killed eight civilians and described how the Islamist militants were warned in time of the French deployment.
“People saw them landing at the fields, the Shabab had been informed that the helicopters had landed and that the soldiers had disembarked and the Islamists were able to get prepared”, said Adan Derow, resident of the Bulo Marer town, interviewed by phone from Mogadishu. “The fighters were aware of the attack and we were ready to defend ourselves, thank God”, confirmed Sheikh Mohamed Ibrahim, a local commander, to the AFP.
Many witnesses confirmed eight deaths to the AFP: four during the the forces' advance towards Bulo Marer — a couple, their son and another man — and four wounded by stray bullets during the fight — a woman, her infant son and a police officer. “There were some 40 [Frenchmen] against over a hundred Shabab combatants with heavy weaponry”, said an employee of a local NGO who didn't want to be named. “The mission was impossible and rather amateurish.”
Al-Shabab demands release of Jihadis in exchange of French hostage. Residents describe ill-planned operation.
The Islamist warriors of the Somali Al-Shabab militia repeated that the Frenchman they've held hostage since 2009 — and whom French commandos tried to rescue in a failed operation — is still alive, and ask the release of "Jihadis" arrested around the world in exchange for his life, said this Sunday the French Defense Minister, Jean-Yves Le Drien.
Initially, the French government informed that Denis Allex (alias of a secret services member) had been murdered by his captors during the operation, while French President François Hollande lamented the “sacrifice of two soldiers”. Le Drien corrected afterwards: there's one dead troop and another disappeared — Al-Shabab has said that it captured him (wounded) and he'll be trialed today.
French authorities have also announced the deaths of “17 terrorists” and said the failure was due to “stronger resistance than expected” that they said was met. Residents told the Association France Presse that the commandos killed eight civilians and described how the Islamist militants were warned in time of the French deployment.
“People saw them landing at the fields, the Shabab had been informed that the helicopters had landed and that the soldiers had disembarked and the Islamists were able to get prepared”, said Adan Derow, resident of the Bulo Marer town, interviewed by phone from Mogadishu. “The fighters were aware of the attack and we were ready to defend ourselves, thank God”, confirmed Sheikh Mohamed Ibrahim, a local commander, to the AFP.
Many witnesses confirmed eight deaths to the AFP: four during the the forces' advance towards Bulo Marer — a couple, their son and another man — and four wounded by stray bullets during the fight — a woman, her infant son and a police officer. “There were some 40 [Frenchmen] against over a hundred Shabab combatants with heavy weaponry”, said an employee of a local NGO who didn't want to be named. “The mission was impossible and rather amateurish.”
