Somalia says Cuban pilot is captured attacking town

Somalia claimed it captured a Cuban pilot who was flying a Soviet-made MIG fighter during a raid on Somali border town, Monitor contributor Olfat M. El Tohamy reports.

Somalia said the raid was part of a renewed Ethiopian attack on the Somalia border area - and that the raids are being conducted with Soviet backing by Soviet military experts, Cubans, Libyan, and South Yemeni fighters.

Ethiopia disclaims any part in the raids. Somalia, which has a United States military base, is seeking direct military support from moderate states in the region, but so far has not received any aid.

The following was also reported from wire dispatches Thursday: Egypt called on Ethiopia to withdraw its troops and abide by the charter of the Organization of African Unity. Somalia said its forces had killed 60 Ethiopian troops attacking a Somali border town.