Breaking News: Al-Ittihad Destroyed PM Gedi Arrives in Mogdishu!!!

[raadamiir]

Mogadishu residents took to the streets to cheer government troops, while others hid.

 

Scores of government military vehicles had passed the Somalia National University west of the city center, resident Abdikadar Abdulle said.

 

Prime Minister Ali Mohamad Gedi arrived in the capital later and had dinner with his deputy and former faction leader Hussein Mohamed Aideed, presidential envoy Abdirashid Sed told Britain's Channel 4 television.

 

Parts of Mogadishu shook with the sound of gunfire and there were outbreaks of looting after leaders of the Somalia Islamic Courts Council (SICC) fled its base early in the morning. Some fighters ditched their uniforms to avoid reprisals.

 

"We have been defeated. I have removed my uniform. Most of my comrades have also changed into civilian clothes," one former SICC fighter told Reuters. "Most of our leaders have fled."

 

The fall of Mogadishu came about 10 days after the Islamists sought to march on the government base of Baidoa. That prompted Ethiopia to come openly into the war.

 

Government spokesman Abdirahman Dinari said the Islamists had fled to the southern port city of Kismayu and the administration controlled 95 percent of Somalia.

 

It was unclear what the SICC's next step would be and analysts said they could launch a protracted guerrilla campaign. Experts also questioned whether the weak Somali government could maintain security if the Ethiopians left.

 

"The idea that the Ethiopians can just bring this government from outside, plonk it down in the capital and walk away and everything will be solved -- I think that's very, very unrealistic," Richard Dowden, director of the Royal African Society, told Sky News in London.

 

TACTICAL MOVE

 

The SICC had brought a semblance of stability to Mogadishu after chasing U.S.-backed warlords from the city in June. Residents said order had collapsed with their departure.

 

"Mogadishu is now in chaos," Islamist leader Sheikh Sharif Ahmed told Al Jazeera television.

 

Islamist defense lines were routed by a joint force of Ethiopian armor and government fighters.

 

Ahmed said the Islamists were united and determined to push out Ethiopian forces, but retreated to avoid more bloodshed.

 

Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi vowed to pursue the Islamist leaders. "We will not let Mogadishu burn," he added.

 

While the African Union (AU) has called for Meles to withdraw his forces "without delay," he has the tacit support of Washington in his push against the Islamists, analysts believe.

 

State Department spokesman Tom Casey said the situation in Mogadishu remained pretty fluid and the United States had no observers or official presence in the country.

 

"We don't believe that the ultimate solution to the situation in Somalia and the ultimate way of achieving everyone's goal in this, which is to have a functioning, stable government for the Somali people, can be achieved in the long run through violence," Casey told reporters in Washington.

 

The U.N. refugee agency said on Wednesday thousands had fled and were in a "desperate situation." On Thursday it said at least 17 people died and about 140 were missing after boats in which they were fleeing capsized off Yemen.

 

With Eritrea accused of backing the Islamists, many had feared the conflict would engulf the Horn. Ethiopia, like the United States, says the Islamists are supported by al Qaeda.

 

U.N. experts have accused 10 nations of providing arms, expertise and men to both sides. An al Qaeda-backed group in Iraq posted a statement on the Internet this week urging Muslims to support the Islamists.

 

The SICC has depicted the conflict with Christian-led Ethiopia, which has one of Africa's most effective armies, as a holy war against "crusaders," tapping into decades of rivalry.

 

Source: Reuters, Dec 28, 2006

"Now Mogadishu is safe. The people are coming out... the government forces as well as the community leaders are now in full control," he said.

[raadamiir]

Ali Mohamed Gedi, the Somali transitional government prime minister, says troops have entered Mogadishu after the Council of Islamic Courts abandoned the city.

 

Gedi, who met with clan leaders to discuss the handover of the city, said, "we are co-ordinating our forces to take control of Mogadishu".

 

Gunfire could be heard and looting has been reported in the power vacuum that has followed the departure of the Islamic courts fighters on Thursday.

 

Mohammed Adow, Al Jazeera's Somalia correspondent, said the Islamic courts' decision to pull out was unexpected.

 

 

He said: "They had promised the Somali people to defend Mogadishu to the last man, but this hasn't happened.

 

"As they head for the south, the chances look very remote for the Islamic courts to assemble their fighters again in order to be able to wage any war against the Ethiopian and Somali government fighters."

 

Power vacuum

 

One former Islamic courts fighter said: "We have been defeated. I have removed my uniform. Most of my comrades have also changed into civilian clothes."

 

"People are cheering as they wave flowers to the troops," said one resident of the Somali capital, adding that scores of military vehicles had passed the Somalia National University.

 

Mohamed Jama Fuuruh, a member of the Baidoa-based Somali parliament, said: "The government has taken over Mogadishu. We are now in charge ... There will be no problems and everything will be fine."

Meles Zenawi, the Ethiopian prime minister, confirmed that Somali transitional government forces and Ethiopian troops would pursue the Islamic courts leaders.

 

"We are discussing what to do so that Mogadishu will not descend into chaos. We will not let Mogadishu burn," he said in Addis Ababa.

 

Speaking for the transitional government spokesman, Abdirahman Dinari said that it had some way to go towards taking over.

 

"We are taking control of the city and I will confirm when we have established complete control," he said.

 

"Our forces effectively control Mogadishu because we have taken over the two control points on the main roads outside the city."

 

Later Dinari told Al Jazeera the government had declared a state of emergency "to control security and stability".

 

'Old anarchy'

 

The Islamic courts' chairman has said that his side's hasty withdrawal was a tactical move in a war that began last week against Ethiopian troops defending Somalia's weak government.

 

One resident said: "Uncertainty hangs in the air."

 

"My worst fear is the capital will succumb to its old anarchy. The government should come in now and take over - this is the best chance they have before the city falls into the hands of the warlords again."

 

Al Jazeera's Mohammed Adow said that local commanders have already begun taking over parts of the city.

 

"It looks now that the government has on its hands a very difficult task in pacifying Mogadishu ... It looks like Ethiopian troops will be here for some time to come".

[Wisdom_Seeker]

What does a traitor has to offer?

 

Ethiopian raw meat? That should be the national Somali dish.

 

He is associating himself with the B@st@rd warlord. Not that they are any better, but hey, that alone speaks volume. I feel sorry for those who can’t see what the future holds for them.

[raadamiir]

^^^

[General Duke]

^^You are the traitor, not wanting a functioning government. I dare say if you said those words in MANY parts of the country you would be skinned alive.

 

From Hobyo to lower shabbele people are dancing, singing and hopeful.

[raadamiir]

I can't believe how things had changed in a snap, many news headlines around the world said: the Islamists had vanished in thin air!!Alxamdulilahi. I just can't keep up the good news, PM Gedi & other have already arrived in Mogadishu. Lets pray and hope that Somali people will sick together and help this Gov't to finish what they have been created for, peace and reconciliation, setting up next stage of democratically elected Gov't.

 

 

Oh yes, the sun is shining in Somalia and the mayhem in the capital the article refers to will promptly come to an end. Those who aspire for guerilla style warfare I tell them this is neither Vietnam nor Iraq. The people of Somalia had enough with violence and it’s time to bond together to build one country. I also hope that all those foreign fighters that came to devastate our country that the ICU brought in to just leave our country and do not blow themselves up in our cities. Let freedom ring my friends throughout our country because it is a new day. What we are witnessing is the resurrection of a new nation and those who do not like it should have their devotion to their country questioned.

 

The UIC have handed over their guns to members of their clans who support the government, this is the best situation that the government can hope for as it now looks like there is not going to be a fight for Mogadishu . I think the government did a good thing by offering amnesty to those who worked with the UIC because this is the way forward and its time to welcome the Somali Government to Mogadishu so that all Somalia’s abroad can visit their capital without fear anymore. it is time that the militia of the UIC are retrained and be part of the Somali securty services such as the police, army, ect. it is a new day for Somalia and the government that all Somalis were waiting for has finaly arrived. Somalis can now concentrate on how get ahead in terms of education, economy, healthcare instead of focusing on qabiil and everything which tore us all apart.

 

some of our brothers and sisters are in mourning about the end of Itahad Al Islam and their friends in Somalia. Today we can finally write the long awaited obituary for those people.

[NGONGE]

^^^ Don't speak too soon, saaxib. There are more twists and turns to be had before any of what you dream of takes place (if ever).

[Faarax-Brawn]

I also hope that all those foreign fighters that came to devastate our country that the ICU brought in to just leave our country and do not blow themselves up in our cities.

Yep! Let the Invading Ethiopian Army stay but the "terrorists" leave their homeland. Great idea walle

[Wisdom_Seeker]

Originally posted by General Duke:

^^You are the traitor, not wanting a functioning government. I dare say if you said those words in MANY parts of the country you would be skinned alive.

 

From Hobyo to lower shabbele people are dancing, singing and hopeful.

A government you say? What such nonsense you spew duke the sitting duck.

 

I can’t possible be more traitorous than Ghedi and Yusuf.

 

Who in their right mind would welcome a Functioning Government whose pillars are Warlordism?

 

I will tell you who, ignorant masses, uneducated, malnourished, homeless, jobless barbaric, tribalistic individuals who would judge a person by his tribe rather than his merits!

 

Skinning me alive won’t matter, on the long run they will still be sore loser, who have no idea what their personal gain and losses are.

 

Baladweyne isn't happy with oppression! :mad:

[General Duke]

^^^The clan courts are defeated the last obsticle to peace is over.

Get used to it the TFg is here to stay, Somalia is becoming normal, Insha ALLAH.

[raadamiir]

Ethiopia is our neighbor and is a Friend of this Government what is your problem?

 

Don't compare Ethiopia to the terrorists!!!

 

Thanks to Malez , USA and the TFG for ending 17 years of anarchy. Finally , the black flag of Al-ittihad is removed and the blue -and-star Somali national flag is now raised to glory.Peace, freedom and democracy are finally on the march in somalia.We don't say allahu akbar like the jihadi wanna-bes, we say long live freedom, long live democracy and long live somalia. Secularism for today , secularism for tomorrow and secularism for ever.

[raadamiir]

Originally posted by Brown:

quote:I also hope that all those foreign fighters that came to devastate our country that the ICU brought in to just leave our country and do not blow themselves up in our cities.

Yep! Let the Invading Ethiopian Army stay but the "terrorists" leave their homeland. Great idea walle

Ethiopia is our neighbor and is a Friend of this Government what is your problem?

 

Don't compare Ethiopia to the terrorists!!!

 

Thanks to Malez , USA and the TFG for ending 17 years of anarchy. Finally , the black flag of Al-ittihad is removed and the blue -and-star Somali national flag is now raised to glory.Peace, freedom and democracy are finally on the march in somalia.We don't say allahu akbar like the jihadi wanna-bes, we say long live freedom, long live democracy and long live somalia. Secularism for today , secularism for tomorrow and secularism for ever.

[Wisdom_Seeker]

You have used the ETS to kill and slaughter some of your own Somali people and you speak of bonding.

 

I respect Sh. Sheriff, for not inflicting any harm or violence on Mogadishu, but damn will the TFG inflict some major atrocities on that city on the days to come.

 

You celebrate and cheer for the warlords, didn’t you people want them out and kicked out of Mogadishu? You people are cynical.

[Faarax-Brawn]

Ethiopia is our neighbor and is a Friend of this Government what is your problem?

Shut the **** up you door Knob daba dhilif traitor.

 

What this govt is,is a govt of warlords and hand picked by Somalia's enemy. If you mean 17yrs of anarchy is over by re instating the same warlords that ruled their respective fiefdoms,then by all means "the people"[Of Xabashi,USA] are free.

[Wisdom_Seeker]

raadamiir

 

Do you also post that nonsense on Hiiraan website?

 

Such ridicule shouldn’t be posted on two different websites!

 

Listen, Ethiopia was never your friend it will never be. The Oromos and the Somalis there are both treated like trash. You have every right to lick any behind you wish, but don’t expect us Somalis to stoop that low.

 

Welcoming warlords :rolleyes: