Insurgents Briefly Capture Key Town in Show of Defiance - washingtonpost.com

Insurgents Briefly Capture Key Town in Show of Defiance - washingtonpost.com

Somalia's national army, which began last year with about 20,000 troops, has dwindled to about 2,000, many of whom spend much of their time looting the homes and businesses of ordinary Somalis.

Press TV - Somali soldiers recapture Jowhar town:

In another incident on Wednesday, hundreds of civilians celebrated in the street as Somali soldiers were forced to leave Bakara Market in Mogadishu after fierce battle with the Bakara Market guards.

Prior to the gunfire, Somali soldiers killed one civilian and injured four others as they opened fire on the people in the Market.

Somali insurgents kill 26 Ethiopians

Eyewitnesses said the Ethiopians enraged by the assault opened fire on a Somali military vehicle and killed four government soldiers.

For those who don't know, there are 3 groups here: a) the insurgents, which are heterogeneous groups of Somalis, many of whom are more interested in protecting their own freedom than creating a new state, b) the Ethiopians, and c) the so-called (Somalia Transitional Federal) Government (the "government soldiers" mentioned above). The fact that Ethiopian soldiers are killing TFG soldiers--they are supposed to be on the same side--doesn't bode well for the power mongers.

See also: Land mines kill dozen Somali troops

13 Somali soldiers killed in Mogadishu

Civilians are believed to be among the forces who fought against the soldiers after their businesses were demolished and looted.

This might explain the successes of the insurgency in recent weeks.