Ethiopian troops overtaking Islamists' control

[Player-X]

Ethiopian troops overtaking Islamists' control

MOGADISHU, Somalia -- Troops from Ethiopia and Somalia's transitional government cornered Islamic fighters Wednesday in their stronghold of Mogadishu, setting the stage for a possible showdown over Somalia's seaside capital.

A weeklong assault led by Ethiopia's military, which sent nearly 4,000 troops into Somalia at the request of the transitional government, has resulted in a sudden reversal of fortunes for the Islamists, who have lost nearly all the territory they had seized the past six months.

On Wednesday, Islamists lost two more key areas, including the town of Jowhar and the port city of Kismayo, officials said. Ethiopian troops moved within 18 miles of Mogadishu.

As residents hoarded food, water and gas in anticipation of an attack, the Africa Union chairman called for Ethiopian troops and other foreign elements to withdraw from Somalia. The Arab League called for an immediate ceasefire.

Somalia has not had an effective central government for 15 years. The U.N.-backed transitional government has been trying to establish its authority, but the Islamists have presented a major challenge.

The Islamic Courts Union, an alliance of religious leaders, seized Mogadishu from warlords in June and gradually extended their control over much of the country. Ethiopian and U.S. officials have accused the Islamist alliance of being controlled by international terrorists, including al-Qaida. Critics said the courts union planned to install a Taliban-style government in Somalia and use it as a springboard to spread religious extremism in Africa.

Islamists deny such allegations, saying there are victims of Western and anti-Muslim propaganda.

Ethiopian and transitional government officials insisted the offensive would continue until the Islamists surrendered. "The fighting will not end as long as one of the terrorists remains in Somalia," said Barre Adan Shire, defense minister for the transitional government.

Somali government officials said they had no immediate plans to invade the capital, a campaign they said could inflict heavy civilian deaths on the city of 2 million. Instead, Ethiopians and transitional government troops encircled Mogadishu, shut down the sea port and airport, and are pressuring Islamic leaders to give up.

"We are cutting off the roads and begging them to lay down their weapons," said Abdikarim Farah, the transitional government's ambassador to Ethiopia. He said the U.S. was helping to seal off access along the Indian Ocean coastline. "We will take over Mogadishu peacefully. I assure you that. ... How can they hold?"

U.S. military officials acknowledged they have been conducting operations to interdict terrorists in the seas surrounding the Horn of Africa but noted those missions have been in place for several years. One military official said there is a Navy presence off the coast of Somalia, but it is aimed primarily at anti-piracy efforts and has been in place for some time.

Much of Ethiopia's campaign, including the capture of nearly two dozen Somali cities over the past week, occurred without a fight because Islamist troops retreated in advance of Ethiopian tanks, jets and troops.

But fierce battles over a few key cities are believed to have left hundreds dead on both sides. Exact casualty figures could not be confirmed, but the International Red Cross estimated 800 were wounded over the past week.

Shire said more than 1,000 Islamists have been killed, including 300 foreigners.

After a three-hour battle Wednesday, Jowhar was seized by transitional government troops led by Mohammed Omar Habeb, also known as Mohammed Dhere, a warlord who was driven out of the city by Islamists this summer.

"We attack Mogadishu Thursday," Dhere told the town's residents after retaking the city. "We will catch and behead all the terrorists and militants, just as they behead innocent people."

Transitional government officials, who also have clashed with Dhere in the past, cautioned that he would not resume control of Johwar.

Later in the day, Islamists reportedly abandoned Kismayo as Ethiopians advanced. The World Food Program, a U.N. agency, was forced to suspend airlifts and food distributions to flood victims in the area, a spokesman said.

The spokesman of the Islamic courts, Sheik Mohammed Ibrahim Suley, downplayed Wednesday's setbacks.

"Our forces are coming back for tactical retreat," he said. "We are sure we will defeat the enemy and will seize the places we lost."

Islamist leaders are vowing to use guerrilla tactics, including suicide attacks, to defeat the larger, better-equipped Ethiopian military. "Our forces have mandate to ambush the enemy forces in every place," Suley said.

Analysts said such threats would not easily intimidate Ethiopia's military leaders, most of whom spent years fighting in the bush as rebels against a former dictatorship which they overthrew in 1991.

"This is a force that toppled the previous government through guerrilla warfare," said Amare Aregawi, editor of the pro-government newspaper The Reporter. "They are guerrilla-war specialists."

Ethiopian and transitional government leaders said their troops have been warmly greeted by Somalis, but some people in Mogadishu warned of a backlash if Ethiopian troops entered the capital.

"If they try to occupy the capital, there will be mass suicide attacks and terrorist acts," said Abdusamad Abdulkader, a fabric vendor.

Others said Islamists, who had been praised for restoring peace and order to southern Somalia, were quickly losing support among the people.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi promised Ethiopia would not keep its forces in Somalia or attempt to occupy its neighbor.

Experts say that raises questions about how Somalia's transitional government, with only about 10,000 soldiers, will be able to maintain control after Ethiopian troops go home.

Transitional government officials are scrambling to accelerate security recruitment and training programs and said they will attempt to rehabilitate former Islamist fighters. But United Nations or Africa Union peacekeepers likely will be needed, many believe.

"They will need substantial support from the international community," said Bereket Simon, an adviser to Meles. "The whole world should help Somalia stand on its own two feet."

Staff writer Sanders reported from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and special correspondent Albadri from Mogadishu. Staff writer Peter Spiegel in Washington contributed to this report.

There's another war to talk about.

[industrian]

Originally Posted by Player-X

There's another war to talk about.

I'm behind the Ethiopians on this one. The Islamists can cry foul and call it a Christian/Ethiopian crusade all they like, but I respect the massive responsibility undertaken by the Ethiopians to ensure that their neighbour doesn't become another Afghanistan.

[PersianBoy]

I'm behind the Ethiopians on this one. The Islamists can cry foul and call it a Christian/Ethiopian crusade all they like, but I respect the massive responsibility undertaken by the Ethiopians to ensure that their neighbour doesn't become another Afghanistan.

Ethiopians are really silly. muslims can send 100,000 jihadist there to ***** their black asses.

[shafeen]

muslims are getting a bit extreme here. why cant these old minded people live together.i really hate these orthodox people

[Player-X]

I am on the side of the Ethiopians on this one, I think if the Islamists start to push back they will bring even more misery and poverty to Ethiopia, I am also concerned with the instability this war will produce around the world because even if the Islamists were pushed back by conventional warfare as they themselves have said they will engage in asymmetrical warfare which is not a good situation for maintaining peace.