MOGADISHU, April 30: Ethiopian troops on Wednesday sprayed gunfire on Somali civilians, killing at least 12 after a roadside bomb blast hit a water truck in the southwestern town of Baidoa, witnesses said.

The fatalities came as the International Committee of the Red Cross warned that the humanitarian crisis in Somalia had reached a new low, threatening millions of people.

“At least 12 people were killed and nine others wounded by fire from Ethiopian soldiers,” witness Abdurahman Takow said, adding that three of the wounded appeared to have been severely hurt.

The explosion — in the town of Baidoa — killed one Ethiopian soldier, prompting other troops to open fire in all directions, said Mohamed Adde Ali, another witness who gave a similar death toll.

Ethiopian military commander denied that his troops had opened fire, saying the bomb blast against the Ethiopia water truck was responsible for killing at least 17 civilians and one of his soldiers.

“Seventeen civilians were killed by the blast that was very heavy. We lost one of our soldiers,” the commander said.

He added that Ethiopian forces, who are supporting Somali troops, killed two insurgents suspected of planting the bomb.—AFP