Somalia: Grenade blast targets a truck transporting water to Ethiopian forces

Aweys Osman Yusuf

Mogadishu 29, July.07  A huge grenade explosion targeted a water truck bringing drinking water to the Ethiopian troops in Balet Weyne, the main town of Hiran province in central Somalia.

Witnesses told Shabelle that unknown gunmen hurled a grenade at the water truck that was hired by the Ethiopian forces based on the outskirt of Balet Weyne.

"It was carrying drinking water for the Ethiopians when unknown gunmen threw a grenade at truck. No one was hurt in the incident but the truck was BADLY damaged," said a witness who only gave his name as Ahmed.

Abdulahi Dheere, the driver, told Shabelle by phone that the he was moving along the bridge when the grenade was hurled at his truck.

"They were unidentified gunmen trying to kill me because the Ethiopian troops hired me and another water truck driver to deliver the drinking water to them. They have been targeted with roadside bombs and grenades in the past and therefore they decided to hire Somalis, and now we are the targets," he said.

Dheere indicated that local elders in the town convinced the Ethiopians that their drinking water should be delivered to them by Somalis.

"When Ethiopians are attacked, they open fire at every direction and the crossfire may kill a lot of people, so to avert such incidents, we were trying to be the solution," he said.