SomaliNet Forums

Somalia: Belorussia admits its airplane shot down in Mogadishu
Sat. March 24, 2007 02:22 pm.- By Mohamed Abdi Farah. - Send this news article

(SomaliNet) Belarus said on Saturday a missile caused a plane crash in Mogadishu that killed 11 of its citizens, while the Somali government said the incident looked more like an accident than an attack by ever bolder insurgents, Reuters reports.

"The plane was shot down," Transport Ministry spokeswoman Kseniya Perestoronina said in Minsk, adding the large Ilyushin plane, in Somalia to assist struggling African peacekeepers, was hit at a height of 150 metres (500 feet).

If confirmed, it would be the most spectacular strike yet by rebels fighting the Somali government, their Ethiopian military allies and the African Union (AU) force since the start of 2007.

Both a local Somali radio and an Islamist Web site said a missile hit the Russian-made Ilyushin -- used by a Belarussian firm -- just after takeoff from Mogadishu on Friday afternoon.

However, witnesses who saw the plane burning in the sky and then crashing could not confirm it had been shot first.

And Somali Interior Minister Mohamed Mahamud Guled insisted the incident had the hallmarks of a technical fault, though investigations were under way to confirm exactly what happened.

"The plane took off at around five o'clock and as soon as it reached 10,000 feet altitude, the pilot reported an engine problem in engine number two and said he would turn back to the airport," he told a news conference in Mogadishu.

Source: Reuters

What is so idiotic about his statement?

quote "And Somali Interior Minister Mohamed Mahamud Guled insisted the incident had the hallmarks of a technical fault"

This AFTER the Belarusians, and anyone within eyesight, saw the plane get hit with a missile. His attempt at trying to masquerade this as a technical fault makes him look idiotic.

Mickey,

This is from a govt with no aircraft

Mike, I spoke with people in Mogadishu today, they say it was a mechanical malfunction the pilot radioed in a failure of some sort right after take off. Additonally, no one saw a rocket or anything hit the plane.

Demure, then why would the Belarusian authorities say it was shot down? If it was designed to inflame the aggression agianst the Islamists, then wouldn't it serve the best interests of the TFG to concur? Strange.

Mike, Rumor has it the wadaado are behind the hype that it was shot down not TFG. And I don't know why the Belarussians would say that when it's not confirmed yet.

Demure, that's an interesting development. I'd like to find out the outcome, if at all possible. Keep me informed if you can.