Ethiopian soldiers open fire in all directions after roadside bomb explosion in southwest Somalia.

Ethiopian forces killed at least 12 civilians on Wednesday after a roadside bomb exploded near their water tanker in southwest Somalia, witnesses said.

"At least 12 people were killed and nine others wounded by fire from Ethiopian soldiers," witness Abdurahman Takow said

He said three of the wounded appeared to be severely hurt.

The bomb explosion in the town of Baidoa killed one Ethiopian soldier, prompting the troops to open fire in all directions, said Mohamed Adde Ali, another witness, giving the same death toll.

A similar explosion, also in Baidoa, on Monday killed four Ethiopian troops sparking a retaliatory attack in which four civilians died in the town around 250 kilometres (155 miles) northwest of the capital Mogadishu.

Ethiopian troops came to support Somalia's embattled transitional government in late 2006 and the following year defeated the Islamic Courts Union (ICU), which controlled large parts of south and central Somalia with relative stability and prosperity.

Remaining ICU members have since waged a deadly guerrilla war against the government as well as allied Ethiopian forces.

The conflict – initiated by the Ethiopian invasion - has left thousands dead, including many civilians, and forced hundreds of thousands to flee their homes.

HEYET Net- MEO