MOGADISHU, April 6: Ethiopian troop reinforcements on Friday entered the Somali capital on the fifth day of a shaky ceasefire as thousands of displaced Mogadishu residents sought food and water to survive.

The deployment came after a four-day peak in fighting pitting Ethiopian troops against Islamist insurgents and clan fighters, that died down on Sunday after killing hundreds and forcing tens of thousands to flee.

“I have seen seven Ethiopian military vehicles coming from Baidoa. They were heading to the presidential palace,” said Abdul Kadir Muktar, a resident of southern Mogadishu, on Friday.

Mahdi Said, a resident of Lafole, south of the capital, said he saw at least four Ethiopian military vehicles heading to Mogadishu, also from the direction of Baidoa.

“There were some troops on board, but I do not know how many they were,” he said.

The troops earlier flew into Baidoa, 250 kilometres northwest of Mogadishu, according to locals there, who reported seeing two large planes and at least nine military vehicles carrying dozens of soldiers.

Ethiopian information ministry spokesman Zemedkum Tekle denied a new deployment and insisted Addis Ababa had pulled out two-thirds of its forces from Somalia.

“This is not true. There are no additional troops to Somalia,” Zemedkum said on telephone from Addis Ababa. “It is getting calmer and calmer and there is no need to do that.” Meanwhile many expressed fears of a growing humanitarian crisis as displaced Mogadishu residents struggled to obtain basic food and shelter on Friday.—AFP