Posted on 12/26/2006 6:58:34 AM PST by meg88
Ethiopian troops advance on Mogadishu
December 27, 2006
ETHIOPIAN troops are advancing on the Somali capital and could seize it within two days.
Somalia's envoy to Ethiopia said yesterday: "Ethiopian forces are on their way to Mogadishu. They are about 70 kilometres away and it is possible they could capture it in the next 24 to 48 hours."
Addis Ababa has vowed to protect Somalia's weak interim Government from rival Islamists based in Mogadishu, and a week of artillery and mortar duels between the two sides has spiralled into open war that both sides say has killed hundreds.
Islamist fighters have retreated from the front line, with troops loyal to the Union of Islamic Courts withdrawing more than 50 kilometres to the south-east from Daynuney, a town just south of the Government's headquarters of Baidoa.
Ethiopian jets fired missiles at the retreating soldiers yesterday, after bombing Somalia's two Islamist-held international airports on Monday.
While the Government hailed the retreat as a partial victory, the Islamists insisted their withdrawal and re-grouping was a tactic in what they vowed would be a long war.
The Islamist forces also abandoned their main stronghold in Bur Haqaba and were forming convoys heading towards the capital Mogadishu, reported residents in villages along the road.
"We woke up from our sleep this morning and the town was empty of troops, not a single Islamic fighter," said Ibrahim Muhammad Aden, a resident of Bur Haqaba. Another resident said locals were looting the food left behind.
Islamic fighters were also reportedly retreating on two other fronts in the war for control of Somalia. On the northern front, Government and Ethiopian troops entered the town of Bulo Barde, where two weeks ago a Muslim cleric said anyone who did not pray five times a day would be executed.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi announced on Saturday that he had sent troops into Somalia to fight international terrorists, defend Ethiopian interests and prop up the besieged UN-backed Government, which has only a small military force.
But Mr Zenawi has said he does not intend to keep his forces in Somalia for long. He has told visiting dignitaries in Addis Ababa that his goal is to severely damage the Islamic Courts' military capabilities, take away their sense of invincibility and allow both sides to return to peace talks on an even footing.
The Islamic group, which wants to rule the country by the Koran, has been a source of grave concern for Ethiopia. Since June, it has seized control of the capital and much of southern Somalia.
No reliable casualty reports are available. Both sides claim to have killed hundreds of their enemy, but independent observers were not given access to the battlefield. The Arab League, which has mediated several rounds of talks between the Somali Government and the Islamists, called for all parties involved to "immediately hold a comprehensive ceasefire".
Many Somalis are enraged by Ethiopian involvement - the countries have fought two wars over their disputed border in the past 45 years.
Somalia has not had an effective government since warlords overthrew dictator Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991, plunging the country into chaos.
AP, REUTERS
Notice how the Islamonazis lose every pitced battle they fight? They're only good at blowing up women and kids in markets.
"Let's hope they have a better after-plan when they attain Mission Accomplished."
Let's hope they don't have a Democratic Party.
MOGADISHU, Dec 26 (Reuters) - Somali Islamists warned Ethiopian troops advancing on the capital on Tuesday that any attempt to seize their Mogadishu stronghold would end in disaster for the attackers.
"It will be their destruction and doomsday," Islamist spokesman Abdi Kafi told Reuters. "It is a matter of time before we start striking at them from all directions". http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L26332959.htm
Just doing the work our PC politicians are too lazy to do . . . Now could we outsource Iraq?
"The Arab League, which has mediated several rounds of talks between the Somali Government and the Islamists, called for all parties involved to "immediately hold a comprehensive ceasefire".
I wonder if they'd be calling for the same should Islamofascists have invaded Ethiopia.
C.A.I.R. is deeply saddened.
I really hope the Ethiopians smash any islamo-terrorist in their way. Otherwise they will pop up after the battle and launch their cowardly attacks.
As a longterm solution Somalia has to be divided. The north is relatively stable and free of Islamo-terrorist influence. They seek independence since years, and I think it's time to seperate them from the Islamist-infested south. I also wouldn't mind if Ethiopia takes parts of Somalia for itself. They used to have harbours and access to the sea, before Eritrea got independent.
Ethopians have courage.
The Arab League has been busy stoking the problems all along. The Saudi-supported Arab Wahabbists that went into Somalia are largely responsible for this most recent round of problems.
It's the Arab way of war. Evade your enemy until he gets tired, swarm any stragglers
It doesn't always work. Particularly when your enemy gets to your own turf
When Rome finally conquered Carthage, they killed all the men, the women and children were enslaved and despersed throughout the Empire. Then they leveled the city and spread salt on the fields so nothing would ever grow there again. They had no further trouble with Carthage. After that example, they had no further trouble with anyone for centuries
I see no utility to the West to leave anything standing in Mogadishu
Without question.
Morning, livius.
I thought this kind of fighting for land was done a long time ago.
Religion of Peace my arse.
May God go with them and bless them (and may we learn from them!)
Morning!
Maybe when they are through with Somalia, we could load'em up and turn them loose on the Sunni Triangle. I'd be willing to bet that their leadership doesn't give a rat's as about international opinion or domestic political polls.
"It will be their destruction and doomsday," Islamist spokesman Abdi Kafi told Reuters. "It is a matter of time before we start striking at them from all directions". You can tell when a Muslim in in trouble. He starts warning you of all the hurt he's going to put on you
You have assumed that W's paln was flawed. It is working but not as fast as the pacifist cowards want it to work.
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