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Islamists Threaten to Seek Outside Military Help As the War Continues On Fifth
Day

Shabelle Media Network (Mogadishu)
NEWS
December 23, 2006
Posted to the web December 23, 2006

By Aweys Osman Yusuf
Mogadishu
The fighting in Somalia between the Islamic Courts Union fighters and pro-
government forces has entered the fifth day as residents in Rama Adde, 15 km
(10 miles) away from Idaale, where the fighting is occurring, said an exchange
of artillery fire and mortar shells was going on overnight.
The situation in Moodemoode and Daynunay, 30 km (20 miles) southeast of the
government base, is reported stable Saturday.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) reported on Friday that
dozens of people have been killed, over 200 have been wounded and many more
were forced to flee their homes as the fighting continues.
Pascal Hundt, head of the ICRC, for Somalia urged all vying parties involved in
the fighting to safeguard the civilian population and take great precautions
while conducting their military operations.
The fighting started late on Tuesday afternoon when the ultimatum given to the
Ethiopian troops to leave Somalia ended. Islamists insisted they were at war
with Ethiopian forces in the country, not the government.
They vowed they would continue the war until all Ethiopians move behind their
border along with Somalia. The Ethiopian Information ministry released a
statement Friday, indicating that Ethiopia's patience was limited, accusing the
Islamic Courts Union of trying to undermine the Somali transitional government
and launching hostile acts.
Witnesses in Baidoa say they saw Ethiopian tanks and helicopters heading to the
battlefront around Idaale. The Ethiopian government says it is determined to
protect the internationally recognized government of Somalia based in Baidoa.
There are no independent confirmations of the number of casualties from both
sides as each group swanks killing more soldiers of the other.
Sheik Hassan Dahir Aweys, the supreme leader of Islamists, warned the
international community to interfere the ongoing war in Somalia and press
Ethiopia to desert Somalia. "The world should now speak of the Ethiopian
aggression of occupying Somalia illegally. The world's interference in
Somalia's affairs will be useless in the future," he said.
Diplomats say Somalia's war will spread and suck in neighboring countries.
Aweys threatens they would not hesitate seeking the military support of any
group or country to fight with the Ethiopian military forces in southern and
central Somalia.
A large number of Ethiopian forces were reportedly deployed in Puntland under
the administration of the semi-autonomous regional government of Puntland. Now
the Islamic Courts forces and pro-government forces are facing off in different
angles in central and southern parts of the country.
The fighting began as EU commissioner Louis Michel arrived in Baidoa and the
capital Mogadishu on Tuesday, urging both the government and Islamists to
initiate peace talks and avoid anything that can trigger conflicts.
United Nations urged both groups to halt the fight on Friday. It said the
ongoing war could encumber the humanitarian aid supposed to reach hundred
thousands of Somalis affected by the country's worst torrential rains and
floods.
Islamic Courts Union seized the capital Mogadishu in early June this year and
expanded their powers into central and southern regions of the country,
besieging the transitional government base of Baidoa.


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