Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, January 2, 1993 TAG: 9301020111
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: From The New York Times, The Washington Post and The Associated Press
DATELINE: BAIDOA, SOMALIA LENGTH: Medium
FIGHTING KILLS 17 IN SOMALI CAPITAL
As President Bush ventured Friday into the epicenter of the Somalia famine, a heavy exchange of mortar and gunfire erupted in Mogadishu, reminding American officials of the volatility and violence of Somali politics. They said it was the heaviest fighting since American troops landed.Marine Col. Michael W. Hagge said it broke out when one subclan attacked another subclan led by one of Mogadishu's two main warlords, Gen. Mohamed Farrah Aidid. Hagge said Bush did not see the fighting.
Western diplomats said the attack was apparently a message to Bush that the subclan, a splinter group, wants to participate in talks for a long-term political settlement in Somalia. Talks on such a settlement are to resume next week in Ethiopia under the direction of U.N. Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali.
Hagge said 17 people were killed and 25 wounded in Aidid's forces and the U.S. military "views with great concern" the use of mortar shells. "Anyone who uses them puts himself at great risk," he added. "We are prepared to take action if necessary."
Hagge told reporters that the American-led intervention forces did not move to squelch the violence immediately when it erupted because no U.S. or allied coalition troops were involved, and because the American forces needed to pinpoint the locations of the artillery and other weapons involved to avoid inflicting civilian casualties.
In Baidoa, Bush praised the American forces that had successfully escorted food convoys but pledged that "we'll do what I told the American people we'll do - we'll leave."
Later, the U.S. military command said the withdrawal of American troops from Somalia could begin by the end of January.
Bush spent the New Year's holiday meeting with troops he had sent to Somalia three weeks ago and visited an orphanage for 800 children who lost their parents to either civil war or famine.
He president referred several times to the eventual replacement of U.S. forces by U.N. peacekeeping troops, although he sought to assure the famine victims that they would not be left helpless.
"I don't think there will be any leaving of the Somali people to suffer the fate they had been suffering," Bush said, answering questions from reporters. "We will do our mission, then we will finish it and there will be a follow-on mission of peacekeeping."
With the inauguration of Bill Clinton as president less than three weeks away, Bush declined to set a date for a withdrawal.
Hagge said the military command had approved a recommendation by Lt. Gen. Robert Johnston, the commander of the Somalia operation, that the deployment of an additional 3,000 to 4,000 American troops scheduled for Somalia be canceled. The recommendation was made because forces from several other nations are being deployed to the country.
Hagge said the withdrawal of some American combat units could begin by the end of the month.
Bush Friday told a group of Marines that Clinton is a friend and a strong-willed leader who will ensure the success of Operation Restore Hope and bring U.S. soldiers home quickly.
"I see no way Governor Clinton would precipitately end this mission," Bush said. "But he shares my view that the U.S. can't do all the heavy lifting."
Bush had spoken with Clinton just before leaving Washington on Wednesday.
"He was a friend of mine, he is a friend of mine and I can tell you he takes enormous pride in what you all are doing," Bush told the Marines.