African Union demands Ethiopia withdraws from Somalia

[Joanne98]

The African Union and the Arab League have issued a joint demand that all foreign troops leave Somalia. That includes the Ethiopians, who are the main supporters of Somalia's interim government in its fight against the Union of Islamic Courts.
Ethiopian-backed pro-government troops have advanced to within a few kilometres of the capital Mogadishu, currently held by the Islamists.

There is panic in the city with many residents desperate to flee. But the Somali ambassador says they will not attack, rather they will surround Mogadishu until their Islamist rivals surrender. Earlier they seized the key town of Jowhar - just 90 kilometres from the capital - before taking Balad.

Ethiopian prime minister Meles Zenawi said: "We have a mission to do. We have done more than half of our mission already. As soon as we complete the other half - and it won't take long - we will be out of there so they won't have a target to fight against."

The Islamic Courts are portraying the conflict as a holy war, tapping into popular anti-Ethiopian feeling, inflamed by decades of rivalry between the two Horn of Africa neighbours. Ethiopia, meanwhile, is depicting the fighting as a war against al-Qaeda linked terrorists.

http://euronews.net/create_html.php?page=detail_info&article=398138&lng=1

[LARED]

1. Shocking

:sarcasm:

The Islamic Courts are portraying the conflict as a holy war,

I'm sick of these Jihadist. Perhaps Somalia would rather have a secular government than live under Sharia law.

[David__77]

9. That is for Somalians, and not Ethiopians or Americans, to determine.

Sitting abroad, this is all hyperbole.

[LARED]

10. I agree, let them have elections.

rather than a holy war. The radicals that want to institute Sharia, are not interested in want people want. They are interested in instituting a theocracy by force if needed.

[ellisonz]

12. Which IMHO...

is better than anarchy and warlordism which is what Somalia has had for nearly 20 years now, and before that there was an autocratic dictator. It is their country, we're a "Christian nation" or so were told, so my question is who is waging holy war now?

:puke:

[fujiyama]

14. Perhaps that may be

but it does become the business of Ethiopia when those same Islamists start causing problems outside of Somalia.

[seriousstan]

2. Isn't the African Union busy raping 12 yr olds in Sudan?

[Joanne98]

3. Probably. But the Somalia warlords are raping 12 year olds too

It's hard to tell who the good guys are. Nonetheless. Bush has expanded the ME oil war to the Horn of Africa. This is an US invasion and that makes this story important.

[Amused Musings]

4. Do you mean because

Ethiopia is supported by the US in this that this is a US invasion? I imagine that Ethiopia prefers not to have the sharia cult dominating a neighboring country. Plus, Ethiopia's arch nemesis, Eritrea are supporting the Islamic Court's (at least thats what I heard on the BBC last night). Granted, that Islamic jihadis taking over the country has only happened because Somalia is a failed state and there was an immense power vacuum for a long time. I am not condoning this invasion but I do not think the African Union or the Arab League has much credibility considering what has and continues to happen in Sudan.

[Greg Helmsley]

5. If it is true...

I want my USA For Africa and Band-Aid donations back if Bush is supporting Ethiopia.

[monktonman]

6. Greg......only a Freeper would say that.

Happy lurking........

[ellisonz]

13. I think they get joy out of...

watching poor people kill eachother.

The Ethiopia threads seem to have a high number.

[SayWhatYo]

8. There are no good guys in this world...

At least none that are in charge...

[maxsolomon]

7. lets see you DO something about it, AU

maybe you could invade from the sea & drive them out.

somalia & ethiopia have been rivals for decades? how can you be a rival with a state that hasn't existed for 16 years?

[Posteritatis]

11. Didn't they openly endorse this Tuesday? (n/t)

[fujiyama]

15. The African Union has been ineffective and worthless

in stopping genocide in Sudan.

The Arab league has even less credibility when it comes to human rights.

[Township75]

16. I love the Islamist's claim that they will die for Allah...

yet they gave up the city today and fled.

NPR just ran a story that The Islamic Court took control of Somolia years ago, and then ushered in foreign rulers. They are interested in taking over the horn of Africa.