Beletwein, 16 March 2007 - Somali soldiers were responsible for robbing a government checkpoint that collects taxes in the central Hiran region, police officials said.

The incident happened in the Hiran regional capital Beletwein midday Friday when an unknown number of armed and uniformed soldiers stormed the checkpoint and exchanged gunfire with policemen there for several minutes.

The soldiers managed to overpower the police and then escape with all the funds that had been collected there. Officials could not verify the exact amount the soldiers took.

It was the second such incident in Beletwein in the last month. Sources said government soldiers have not been paid since they helped ouster an Islamic movement from power late last year.

Government spokesmen declined to offer details or comment on this story.

Civilians killed

At least 3 civilians and 2 militiamen were killed in Middle Shabelle region when government soldiers tried to forcefully dismantle an illegal militia checkpoint, witnesses said.

Bal’ad district officials immediately condemned the attack that ended with high civilian casualty.

“They [soldiers] did not want to destroy the [militia] roadblock but wanted to take the militiamen’s weapons,” one Bal’ad district official told Garowe Online on the condition of anonymity.

Somalia’s interim government is the 14th attempt to restore central authority since the violent overthrow of military dictator Gen. Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991.

Source: Garowe Online