N.O.R.F Posted July 21, 2006 Islamic militia leaders in Somalia have threatened to wage what they called a holy war against Ethiopia unless it withdraws its troops from Somalia. Ethiopia has denied reports its forces crossed the Somali border on Thursday but a BBC reporter has seen Ethiopian troops patrolling the town of Baidoa. The transitional government of Somalia is based there. Ethiopia has repeatedly warned it will intervene to protect Baidoa against any attack by Islamist militiamen. The militiamen are loyal to the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) movement, which last month took control of the Somali capital, Mogadishu. BBC Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
N.O.R.F Posted July 21, 2006 Islamists vow war against Ethiopian troops Agencies Mogadishu: Islamists on Thursday vowed a "holy war" against Ethiopian troops crossing into Somalia, heightening fears of a new war in the country. Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa, threatened to "crush" any attack while around 20 military vehicles from Ethiopia crossed into Somalia at Dollow on Wednesday. Analysts believe Addis Ababa has sent up to 5,000 troops into Somalia, and is massing many more on the border. "God willing, we will remove the Ethiopians in our country and wage a jihadi war against them," said Shaikh Mukhtar Robow, a senior Islamist in charge of defence. Nominal Christian Ethiopia, which condemns the Islamist leaders as "terrorists", fears having a hardline Muslim state on its doorstep. Somalia's government and Ethiopia were on high alert after Islamists advanced on Baidoa city on Wednesday. The militants also took the capital Mogadishu from US-backed warlords last month. Ethiopia supports the government of Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf, based in Baidoa, because it lacks the strength to move into Mogadishu. GN Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
