KISMAYO, Somalia (AP) -- Somalia's Islamic radicals claimed Tuesday they had captured an Ethiopian officer after heavy fighting against pro-government militia in which 43 were killed. The wounded soldier was seized after 26 hours of fighting between Islamic fighters and militia loyal to Somalia's defense minister, said Islamic movement spokesman Sheik Shukri Abraham. Ethiopian officials were not immediately available for comment. Ethiopia and Somalia's governments had initially denied the presence of Ethiopian troops in the country, but Ethiopia's prime minister recently acknowledged he had sent troops. He said there were only a few military trainers. Tensions between Ethiopia, which backs Somalia's weak government, and the Islamic radical group that controls much of southern Somalia have been mounting in recent months. So far they have avoided any direct clashes, though the rhetoric on both sides has been fiery, raising fears of a conflict that could engulf the entire Horn of Africa region. The fighting between the rival militias, which broke out late Sunday and ended late Monday, occurred in the Islamic base of Bu'aale, 170 kilometers (100 miles) south of the government base of Baidoa and where Ethiopian trainers are believed to be based. The town briefly fell to forces loyal to Defense Minister Col. Barre "Hirale" Aden Shire during the fighting, but was recaptured by Islamic militia, Abraham told journalists. He said 43 pro-government fighters were killed while three Islamic militia also died. "We have defeated the militia after 26 hours fighting," he said. The Islamic forces also captured six pickup trucks mounted with machine guns and known locally as "technicals." "We have captured an Ethiopian officer and he is now being held under guard in one of our compounds," he said at press conference in the southern strategic seaport of Kismayo. The Ethiopian soldier will be shown to the media in the coming days, Abraham added. Officials for Shire were not immediately available for comment. Somali government officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media, say about 6,000 Ethiopian troops are in the country or encamped on the 1,600 kilometer (990 miles) border. The issue is sensitive because Ethiopia and Somalia are traditional rivals. Ethiopia, with almost half of its 77 million population Muslim, fears fundamentalism in its neighbor. Somalia has not had an effective national government since 1991, when warlords overthrew dictator Mohamed Siad Barre and then turned on one another, throwing the country into anarchy. President Abdullahi Yusuf's government was formed in 2004 with U.N. help in hopes of restoring order after years of bloodshed. Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Yet another blow to the TFG. 43 pro-government fighters were killed while three Islamic militia also died according to CNN source below http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/africa/10/24/somalia.ethiopia.ap/index.html?section=cnn_latest Where are those hard talking munafiqoons and kafiroons now?

Manshallah, may Allah make Islamic courts take the city peacefully without any further bloodshed.

Hornafrique, dont you think its time for you to switch your allegiance to the Islamic courts

Here is the neutral source everyone's been looking for. ................... Mogadishu - Five people were killed on Sunday when fighters with Somalia's powerful Islamist movement clashed with government-allied militia amid rising fears of all-out war. As both sides girded for battles near the weak government's temporary seat of Baidoa, fighting rocked the town of Buale for about two hours with Islamists driving local militiamen out, witnesses said. A day after government forces, allegedly backed by Ethiopian troops, took Burhakaba, just southeast of Baidoa, fighting erupted in Buale, north of the key port of Kismayo that the Islamists seized last month, they told reporters. Witnesses and Islamist commanders in Buale, about 80km from Kismayo, said Muslim gunmen had driven from the town members of the Juba Valley Alliance (JVA) who fled north after gun battles. "We have taken all of their armed vehicles after fierce clashes with the JVA in Buale," said Ibrahim Hassan Shukri, a commander with the Supreme Islamic Council of Somalia. "One of our Mujahedeen was killed in the fighting." "We took eight battlewagons from the JVA," said another Islamist commander Sheikh Yakubu Ali, referring to machine-gun mounted pick-ups also called "technicals". "The area is under the control of the Islamic courts." JVA commander Deeq Abbi said his fighters had withdrawn after the fighting in Buale in which four of his men were killed. "We were attacked by the Islamic courts militia," he told reporters by satellite phone. "They took two vehicles from us and killed four of our fighters. We have retreated from Buale." The JVA is led by the defence minister in Somalia's transitional government, which is facing a serious challenge from the Islamists, who seized Mogadishu in June from warlords and now control most of southern and central Somalia. It held Kismayo, about 500km south of Mogadishu, until September 24 when its forces fled ahead of a feared push on the town by advancing Islamists, but has since vowed to retake it. The fighting in Buale came as tension gripped Burhakaba, about 60km south-east of Baidoa, which was occupied on Saturday after heavy fighting between government forces and an Islamist-allied militia. Residents said hundreds of villagers were fleeing the town in anticipation of new violence. "The tension is too high and everybody is expecting war," said local elder Osman Ibrahim Aden. "People have started fleeing their villages to escape." The new clashes come as the Islamists and the government are under increasing pressure to take part in a third round of Arab League-mediated peace talks in Khartoum set to begin on October 30. Somalia has been without a functioning central administration since 1991 and the government, formed in neighbouring Kenya in 2004, has been wracked by in-fighting and unable to assert control over much of the country. - Sapa-AFP

Yet another blow to those who slander the intentions of the UIC. Where are those who call them clan courts? May Allah preserve the islamic courts, ameen. Maxkamadaha islaamka oo lacago siiyay qoysaskii dadkooda ay ku geeriyoodeen dagaaladii Muqdisho Mogadishu 19, Oct.06 ( Sh.M.Network) Maxkamadaha islaamka somalia ayaa maanta deeqo lacageed oo kaalmo ah siiyay qoysaskii ay ka geeriyoodeen raggii ku geeriyooday dagaaladii maxkamadaha islaamka ay kaga guuleeysteen isbaheysigii la dagaalanka argagixisada. http://www.shabelle.net/2006/october/n9059.htm

Keep posting more propaganda General Duke, but the damage of TFG has already been made and we wait to see the UIC will do next. As far as the courts is concerned they have now got every right to remove these munafiqs

Jihad has been formally declared against the kaffirs and their munafiq supports. May Allah bring victory to the true Hezbollah. Ameen ................................... MOGADISHU, Oct 9 (Reuters) - Somalia's powerful Islamists on Monday declared holy war against Horn of Africa rival Ethiopia, which they accused of invading Somalia to prop up the shaky interim government. "Starting from today, we have declared jihad against Ethiopia," Islamist leader Sheikh Sharif Ahmed told a news conference, while wearing combat fatigues and clutching an AK-47 assault rifle. Ahmed, usually viewed as a more moderate voice among the Islamists who took Mogadishu in June and now control much of Somalia's south, appeared angry as he addressed reporters. "Heavily armed Ethiopian troops have invaded Somalia. They have captured Buur Hakaba. History shows that Somalis always win when they are attacked from outside," he said. The Islamists and residents of Buur Hakaba, about 30 km (20 miles) from the interim government's base in Baidoa, said Ethiopian troops accompanied government fighters who took the town over early on Monday. "Somalis in and outside the country are obliged to defend their country and their religion. You should be ready for an order and execute it as you will be told," Ahmed said.

General Duke those type of talk is over. Eritrea has been as a reaction to Ethiopean interference and unlike TFG, UIC is not a proxy of Eritrea. But inshallah we will see, now that the air has been cleared about TFGs real position. Lets see how long they will hold on to their few territories.

What a munaafiqs Abdullahi and Gedi are for their lies and deception about there is no Ethiopean troops. This is the best thing for the UIC, now they have all the rights to wage Jihad on this Munaafiqs along with their kaffir alies. May Allah bring destruction to them and put fear in their hearts Ameen.

Learn your historical facts General Duke. Non believers have fought alongside muslims before and funded them so before you act like a Shiekh, get your facts right.

Bilan Islam is a perfect way of life with no error or unfairness. As well if you reject anything in the Quran and Sunnah then you have left the fold of islam, lets make this issue very very clear, its not a soft issue that you can play around with. As regarding other books besides the Quran and Sunnah and lectures on women then you shouldnt quote things out of context. If a Shiekh refers to womeen that should take care of her children and household then you shouldnt say well he basis this opinion on all women especially the ones with different circumstances like not being able to be pregnant etc. As regarding a women who can have children then her responsibilty of taking care of the child and raising them to islam and giving them strong foundation is far greater importance than a career etc. What is more greater and challanging than raising a child and her primary focus should be on this. As regarding mens role, we know from shariah that men has to provide for the family and the wife does not has to put food on the table, provide money etc. Even if she had the money to do so she doesnt have to because this is the role of the man. So we see that Allah has shared responsibilty between men and women. I recently saw a poll in England and over 70% of women prefer to raise their children rather than work. Its very complicated for a women to take her role in raising the children and as well take the role of the men. So in her interest its best that she doesnt make things difficult for herself and do one job and leave the other responsibility to the man. Islam is not materialistic, being a millionare is not what we seek, rather we seek the pleasure of Allah and to follow His Messenger(pbuh) and this is the true success.

The short history of TFG is soon coming to an end. Interesting topic thierry

Jazakallah Khair brother thierry a very nice heart whelming article. Ibn Al-Qayyim (ra)is one of my fav sheikhs may Allah bless him for his knowledge

Duufaan, if you adhere to the Quran and Sunnah then you would accept the laws implemented by the UIC but if you prefer to defend your tribe then your in a state of confusion. Naxar Nugaaleed, Im not going to argue whether UIC if clan based or not since you cant get it through your head from previous. So I suggest you go to the battle field to defend your tribe because all your propaganda hasnt done you or your followers any good as of yet.

Listen Naxar Nugaaleed, just like reform was made in the capital to adhere to shariah law, so will Puntland. I didnt say the people of Puntland are kafirs. An islamic state will be formed and eventually all the cities will adhere to the Shariah of Allah inshallah. If however a qabiil minded, self interested person stands in the way of the mujahids of UIC then know that Jihad will prevail.

^^^^ Your observations have been wrong with the UIC most times and one minute you rush to their praise and the next you insult them. The position is clear for the Somalis in the Puntland region. Either the laws of Allah is implemented in Puntland or the UIC will implement it for the people. There is no escaping this so if the people of Puntland adhere to this peacefully then alhamdulilah but know that if they fight then they are wrongdoers and Jihad will prevail. The days of warlord and propaganda talk is finished and all wrongdoers wherever they are and whatever region, whether it be Puntland or Somaliland will be dealt with by the rullings of Allah. So I advice you General_Duke to fear Allah first and foremost and if you persist in your baseless talk then go to Somalia and resist the waves of UIC.

Nur its true that unity cannot be brought about by having rift on minor issues. But the main reason for division within the Ummah is not to do with people creating groups for themselves but because of lack of knowledge of the teachings of Messenger peace be upon him. The Messenger made clear for instance that innovation is in the fire. So why does particular sects continue to innovate and bring newly invented matters, its because of their lack of knowledge and weak desires. Another group for instance make it their objective to assisinate muslim leaders but they dont know that the Prophet(pbuh) stated that we should help the oppressor by talking to them about islam. We can continue and go and on about other groups and their mistakes. I'm not jumping the gun since I take the principles from the Quran and Sunnah and hold on to them firmly as the way of the salaf. Didnt the Prophet(pbuh) say that those on His sunnah and the sunnah of this companions are on the right path. Why then do you find groups celebrating for instance the birthday of the Prophet(pbuh) or calling some companions by filthy names. It is not consistent with the teachings of the Prophet(pbuh) and we need to call these sects back to the Quran and Sunnah and this is what brings about unity because once they here the truth then naturally the falsehood will perish. In conclusion the division is brought about ignorance of the teachings of the Messenger(pbuh) and the desires of people to bring about innovation into the religion. And unity will only be brought about once we adhere to the Quran and Sunnah and interpret it like the way of the salafs, whether you name this order Salafism or not is irrelevant because this is the true teachings of islam.

Brother Nur dont you think that for people choose from what is wrong or not, we need to all know the different sects. It is a fact that the ummah will be divided into 73 sects and 1 out of a 1000 will be guarenteed heaven. Unity is brought about by enjoining that which is good and abstaining from that which is wrong with clear knowledge that it is wrong. It is not possible to say for example that Shia, Sufis and those on the path of the salafs should unite and put their differences aside because there is fundemental disagreements amongst these sects. As well it is untrue to say that each sect have their strong points and weaknesses and that a combination of them will bring about a complete set of rules. I would be suprised to know the strong points of the sufis and shia that the people who follow the salafs and use Quran and Sunnah as their source dont have. So unity is brought about by assessing the sects and choosing the sect that reflect the teachings of Prophet Muhammad(pbuh) and adheres to the principles in the Quran.

^^^^ I didnt say that salafs started in the Saudi era. Thats untrue thing to say since the Saudi era started around 60-70 years ago while the companions(salafs) lived over 1400 years ago. Salafs and school of thought are separate. A school of thought is four scholars interpretations and I want to make clear that the four school of thoughts only disagree in the minor issues of islam not the major such as how much zakah to be paid or disagreement relating to innovations. But if you look at Salafs, Shia and Sufis, there is a disagreement with the major issues in islam such as innovation(sufis) and rejection of sunnah(shia). So to identify the people on the true path, we go back to the Messenger and His companions and how they interpreted Quran and Sunnah and this is what the Salafs are on and what we should all be on.

Prophet Muhammad(pbuh) made it clear that the salafs were the 1 group out of the 73 when He said: “My community will experience everything that the Children of Israel had experienced, following in their footsteps exactly, so much so that if one of their number had approached his mother publicly for sex, one of my community will do the same. The Children of Israel divided into 72 sects. My community will divide into 73 sects, and all of them will be in the Hellfire save one.†The people asked him: “And which one will that be He replied: “The one that follows what I and my Companions are upon right now.†So to say that Salafs is a new phenomena and recently introduced by the Saudi era is untrue and all the mayor Scholars of past and present were salafs such as Ibn Taymiyya, Muhammad Ibn Abdul Wahhab, Bukhari, Hanbal, Shaafi etc. We are muslims - because we submit to Allah and believe in His books(i.e Quran) We are Sunnis - because we believe in the Sunnah of Muhammad Ibn Abdullah(pbuh) We are Salafs - because we interpret the Sunnah like the honourable companions did. However scholars have given fatwa that a salaf is a name and shouldnt be used as a deep allegiance to the group.

Exactly Nur, I used to think it was a top down approach to solve the problems but this is not true. Blaming on the leader etc will not go anywhere unless we ourselves are willing to change.

Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions. The poem, “al-Burdah†(the garment), was intended to praise the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam), but became a disapproved excessive eulogy. The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) warned against such excessive laudation. He said: “Never extol me as the Christians did extol the Son of Mary (Jesus Christ, peace be upon him), for I am no more than a slave of Allah, so say nothing more than 'His slave and messengerâ€. [Reported by Al-Bukhari] Such disapproved extolment can be seen through the poet's saying: "O ye, Noblest of the creatures! I have none except thee to whom I may resort when serious afflictions befall me" And: "Thy knowledge has encompassed the Preserved Tablet and the Pen" These exaggerated sayings involve blatant ignorance and constitute a flagrant contradiction to the clear texts which confirm that the knowledge of the Unseen is limited to Allah Almighty alone: {And with Him are the keys of the Ghaib (all that is hidden), none knows them but He…}[6:59] and He Says: {….If I had the knowledge of the Ghaib (unseen), I should have secured for myself an abundance of wealth, and no evil should have touched me. I am but a warner, and a bringer of glad tidings unto people who believe.}[7:188]. None except Allah, The Almighty can be addressed in such a way. Among His Creation is this life (mundane) and the Hereafter, and within His infinite Knowledge are the Preserved Tablet and the Pen. The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) never claimed to know of what is Hidden (the Unseen) except what Allah let him know. The Noble Qur'an and the Sunnah (the Prophet's Tradition) do not contain any clue that Allah made His Prophet to know anything of what is in the Preserved Tablet or what His Pen (of predestination) has decreed. Far from that, the Qur'an and the Sunnah stressed the fact that the Prophet did not know many of the issues relating to his time's affairs. An example for that is the verse: {…And among the bedouins round about you, some are hypocrites, and so are some among the people of Al-Madinah, they exaggerate and persist in hypocrisy, you (O Muhammad SAW) know them not, We know them….}[9:101]. As for the evidence from the Prophet's noble biography and Sunnah, it is innumerable. Among the examples proving this fact are: what happened during the Battle of Uhud, his eating from the poisoned ewe, the death of one of his companions because of that ewe, what happened concerning the Ifk event (the false accusation fabricated against his chaste wife Ayisha (Radiya Allahu Anha), his intention to attack the tribe of Bani al-Mustaliq, and the revelation of the verse: {O you who believe! If a rebellious evil person comes to you with a news, verify it….}[49:6] and so on. All these matters are evidence that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) did not know anything related to the Preserved Tablet or the Hidden knowledge (the Unseen) except what Allah made him to know through revelation. From that we are to know that the poet's saying: "O ye who had the knowledge of the Tablet and touched the Pen" is over-exaggeration and mere falsification. Such an allegation involves the great sin of approaching the matters of religion without knowledge. One has to beware of such matters as excessive lauding and over extolment, and abide by moderation and reason. May Allah guide us all to do so. For further details on the criticism of this poem, you might refer to a book entitled "Criticism of Al-Burdah, with Answers and Corrections". As for gathering every Thursday to read this Burdah with some Qur'an and doing so till late night it is Bid’ah, there is no evidence for that. Therefore, it is not allowed to attend such a gathering except with the intention of condemning it. We advise you to avoid such Bid’ah and to believe in the exaggeration that is mentioned in that Burdah poem. Allah knows best.

Imaam Ibnul Qayyim talked about what people think is the fitnah of our times {meaning his own times but applying equally to the contemporary fitnah of our own times} . Imaam Ibnul Qayyim said about the ways of Allaah {subhanah wa ta'aala} in this creation vis-a-vis the rulers and the ruled -> . And contemplate Allaah's ({subhanahu was ta'alaa} Wisdom when He made people kings /people of authority, making them reflect the deens of the RULED, it is as if the RULED's deeds appeared in the form and deeds of their RULERS . if the RULED are upright, ... then their rulers will be upright . if the RULED incline away from uprightness, ... then their leaders will do the same to them . if the RULED transgress and oppress, ... then their kings/ rulers will do the same to them . if there appears deception and plotting from the RULED, ... then it will be the same from their rulers . if the RULED take away the rights of the people and become miser as to the rights of others, ... then their kings / rulers will do the same to them and deprive them of their rights . if the RULED take away from the oppressed /weak among them that which they deserve not to take in their transactions with them, .. then their kings/ rulers will do that towards the ruled's wealth and take what they deserve not, and impose tax on them and assignments . and whatever the RULED take from the oppressed /weak unjustly, .. then their kings will do the same to the ruled and take it by force . so the actions of the RULED appear in the actions of the RULERS and it is not in the Divine Wisdom that Allaah subhanahu wa ta'aala assigns authority to the wicked and evils ones, EXCEPT ones who are of their own kind . since the first generation was of the best generation and of the most righteous, ... so were their leaders righteous . it is not befitting Allaah's Wisdom that in our times ( Ibnul Qayyim's times) that those assigned to authority over us be the like of Muawwiya and 'Abdul 'Aziz, not to mention Abu Bakr and 'Umar, but rather our leaders will be in accordance with our condition . and the leaders of those before us were in accordance with their own conditions and ranks . and in both cases, this is entailed by the Wisdom of Allaah subhanahu wa ta'aala . this is the conclusion of Imaam Ibnul Qayyim concerning his times ... so what do you think about our own times? . . this is the Wisdom of Allaah, this pertains to Allaah's Attributes, He puts things in accordance with His Hikmah, meaning in accordance with what is proper / what fits and the objective of this ( His putting things in proper place) will be most perfect . this is the Wisdom of Allaah, putting things in their proper places and for a noble objective, When the people are not ready and are away from the deen of Allaah, what would you expect? Contemplate this very carefully! . And for those who hasten in making these roads for "deliverance", they make of them as the goal (getting rid of the rulers) when they are really the symptoms of the true illness that we have, the true illness is in us (the rulers reflect the ruled) , the concentration should be on us.

Lets get back to the Quraan and Sunnah and fear Allah as He should be feared.