Somali Islamists win city battle

[cal04]

Fighters loyal to the last Somali warlord fighting Islamists in Mogadishu have surrendered, along with their weapons and battle-wagons.

Abdi Qeybdid's forces had fought the Islamist militia for two days, leaving at least 60 people dead.

A BBC correspondent says the Union of Islamic Courts now control 99% of the Somali capital and other key towns.

The Islamists deny claims made by the US and the weak, UN-backed government that they are linked to al-Qaeda.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/5167766.stm

[Moderator]

1. k

[ECH1969]

2. Somali warlord surrenders to Islamists, 140 dead

One of Mogadishu's last warlords holding out against powerful Islamists surrendered after losing most of his territory in two days of fighting that killed more than 140 people, militia sources said on Tuesday.

"It has become necessary to surrender and give peace a chance," a militiaman loyal to warlord Abdi Awale Qaybdiid told Reuters.

Qaybdiid is the last of an alliance of U.S.-backed warlords who called themselves an anti-terrorism group. He kept fighting after the Islamists routed the other warlords and seized the Somali capital last month.

Displaying weapons seized from Qaybdiid, the Islamists said their victory was a turning point for Mogadishu -- one of the world's most dangerous cities -- and called on remaining rival fighters to surrender. "From today onwards, we promise the world that this city is safe," said moderate Islamist leader Sheikh Sharif Ahmed.

http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=worldNews&storyID=2006-07-11T165803Z_01_L11927942_RTRUKOC_0_US-SOMALIA.xml&archived=False

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

3. Good or bad?

Which one's worse?

[xchrom]

4. no matter what -- won't be safe for women.