16/08/08 (B461) Press TV / Environ 85 soldats somaliens avec deux officers ont déserté pour rejoindre les forces islamiques / Over 85 Somali soldiers desert (En Anglais – Info lecteur)

More than 85 Somali government soldiers and two officers have deserted and joined the Union of Islamic Courts fighters, report says.

A Press TV correspondent reporting from south Mogadishu says that the soldiers and officers have handed over their weapons to the UIC fighters and joined their ranks.

The soldiers were young members of the army aged between 18 and 22, while the officers were 27 and 31 years old respectively

The two vehicles they had with them have to taken to an unknown location, our correspondent says.