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Fears
of attack recede in Somalia
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Tuesday,
December 19th, 2006 |
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Both sides in Somalia are playing down the
significance of a deadline given by Islamists for a "massive
attack".
Witnesses say forces of the interim government have been
patrolling the outskirts of the city of Baidoa, their
stronghold, alongside Ethiopian forces. |
But the Islamic Courts Union, which controls much of the south,
backtracked on an ultimatum for Ethiopians troops to leave
Somalia by the end of Monday.
The comments contrast sharply with threats of a holy war made
last week. Islamic Courts Union spokesman Abdi-Rahiin Ali Mudey
said the Islamists would not attack the Ethiopians or Baidoa.
The government has also said talks could resume if the Islamists
stopped making threats. Last week, President Abdullahi Yusuf
Ahmed ruled out any further talks.
Talks
Mr Mudey said the Islamists were using the deadline to give the
Ethiopians a chance to start negotiations with them, but that
Islamist forces would defend themselves if attacked.
"Ethiopia has recently asked us to start talks with them so the
deadline was basically meant to tell the Ethiopians to withdraw
from Somalia, then talks they offered would be possible," he
said.
Information Minister Ali Ahmed Jama said the interim government
had been counting the days, waiting for "the last minute of the
deadline".
"We will not be the first one to attack, but will not stand by
and watch if we are attacked," he said.
Islamic leaders deny accusations of al-Qaeda links. On Sunday,
the Union of Islamic Courts said nearly 200 government troops
had defected to their side. The government denied the
allegations.
Minor clashes have broken out between the two rivals, but
neither side has launched a large offensive. On Saturday
Islamist leader Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed said the movement was
prepared for "dialogue" with Ethiopia. In Yemen, he announced a
deal with the speaker of the Somali parliament to resume talks
after they collapsed last month.
Ethiopian Information Minister Birhan Hailu told the BBC that
his country was always ready for dialogue, but said the
Islamists were not willing to talk with the transitional
government.
"We don't have troops in Somalia, but as we have said so many
times, we have a limited number of military advisers to support
the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia.
"The Ethiopian government is always ready to have peace talks
with anybody in Somalia, and we wish a peaceful solution to the
problem in Somalia."
Source: BBC |
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| Caynaba News
kama masuul aha afkaarta ay xanbaarsan yihiin qoraallada ay
akhristayaashu fekerkooda ku cabbirayaan. |
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11:00 GMT
