Pro-govt troops capture key Somalia town from Islamists

[Bhaisahab]

http://www.indianexpress.com/story/19556.html

Reuters
Posted online: Thursday, December 28, 2006 at 0000 hrs

MOGADISHU, December 27 : Somalia's pro-government troops seized a key southern town from their Islamist rivals on Wednesday in the closest battle yet to the religious movement’s Mogadishu stronghold, witnesses said.

“I can see government troops on top of armoured vehicles chasing Islamist troops ... heading towards Mogadishu,” said resident Mahamud Ismail, from the town 90 km north of the Islamist-held capital. Residents cheered pro-government troops, backed by Ethiopian tanks, in pursuit of Islamist militia, said a witness.

The capture of Jowhar came hours after Ethiopia, defending the Somali interim government, said it was halfway to crushing the Islamists, heightening fears its next step would be to use airstrikes and ground troops to seize the capital.

The Islamist fighters appeared to be heeding a call by senior Islamist leader Sheikh Sharif Ahmed that forces gather in the capital to prepare for a long war against old foe Ethiopia. “Most of our troops should converge around our bases in Mogadishu and prepare for a long war against our enemies,” he said on Tuesday.

FULL REPORT AT LINK ABOVE.

[otherlander]

1. This is just going to be a repeat of Lebanon, isn't it?

nt

[Kagemusha]

2. Possibly the first Israeli invasion rather than the second.

I mean, by all indications, the Ethiopian Army is doing rather well to this point. They're not facing an army of equal might on the Islamist side. Whether the Ethiopian Army can actually hold this territory on behalf of the Somali sock puppet government is a good question. The answer may not be immediately apparent.

Edit: Oh, and the terrain's really flat. Like Iraq's.

[IndianaGreen]

3. The US is supporting the same people responsible for Black Hawk Down

This is what is so crazy about Somalia. The so-called "government" are the same warlords we fought in the infamous Black Hawk Down incident. We back them because we hate the Islamic Court militia that drove the warlords out of Mogadishu.

We are sleeping with one demon in order to defeat another demon.

There are no winners here. The losers are the people of Somalia who will lose no matter who wins.

[Drum]

4. Yeah, ya just gotta wonder.... nt

[daleo]

6. This way Hollywood gets to do a sequel, Black Hawk Down II

This time helping the warlords instead of fighting them. While Hollywood is at it, Stallone can do another Rambo sequel - this time he can fight the Mujahadeen, instead of helping them.

[Toots]

10. There are no winners here

Tell that to the Arms Manufacturers, you know all Bush*'s cronies...

[MidwestTransplant]

5. There was an article earlier where an Etheopian General said

they expect to capture Mogidishu without a fight. If that's the case, it won't be because the Islamists turned tail and ran. Rather it will be because they bleneded into the population to fight an insurgency a la Iraq.

[951-Riverside]

7. I didnt know Ethiopians were that advanced.

War planes?

Thats news to me.

[Eugene]

8. Somali Islamists withdraw from Mogadishu

Somali Islamists withdraw from Mogadishu
28 Dec 2006 06:42:56 GMT
Source: Reuters

MOGADISHU, Dec 28 (Reuters) - A top Somali Islamist leader said on Thursday
that all Islamist forces had withdrawn from the capital Mogadishu.

"We have withdrawn all the leaders and members who worked in the capital,"
Sheikh Sharif Ahmed told Al Jazeera television by telephone.

He said the Somali Islamists remained united and explained the move as a change
in tactics in its war against Ethiopian troops, defending the weak interim
government.

The retreat came hours after a joint force of Ethiopian and Somali government
troops advanced to just 30 km (18 miles) from Mogadishu, threatening to besiege
the capital rather than attack it.

-snip-

Full article: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L28611446.htm

[David__77]

9. Smart tactics.

Ethopia will have to occupy the country if they want to achieve their aims, which are immoral. Somalians will unite to oppose this aggression. This is a clear cut issue and Ethopia is committing a crime for its Western patrons.