Saturday, November 25, 2006
MOGADISHU, Somalia (AFP) - Somali Islamists say they have poured thousands of fighters and heavy equipment into front line positions as they brace for clashes with the Somalian Government and its Ethiopian allies.
The Islamists say they have reinforced areas outside the Government seat of Baidoa, about 250 kilometres north-west of Mogadishu, anticipating imminent attack and accusing neighbouring Ethiopia of sending air power.
Islamist military chief Sheikh Muktar Robow has told AFP his forces are completely ready on the front lines within trenches.
"We are facing the Ethiopian invaders. The only thing we expect is the start of battle," he said.
"The Ethiopians have brought warplanes, including helicopters, and even heavy tanks to Baidoa and they are intending to wage an attack against us and we are ready for that."
The Islamists and the Ethiopian-backed Government have been preparing for all-out war near Baidoa for weeks, since the collapse of peace talks earlier this month, but in recent days have stepped up preparations.
In Baidoa, the Government's Deputy Defence Minister, Salad Ali Jelle, said the Islamist troop build-up was "provocative and irresponsible" but declined to comment on the troops' claims of Ethiopian reinforcements.
"They are making strategic errors," he told AFP.
"We are aware of their unnecessary military manoeuvres and we warn them to refrain from any movement that could ignite war.
"The Islamists will be responsible for any violence."
'Holy war'
The Islamists have declared holy war on Ethiopian troops in Somalia that are protecting the transitional Government.
On Thursday, Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi told Parliament that his Government had taken the necessary preparations for war with the Islamists, which he accused of posing a "clear and present danger" to his country.
Fighters from all sides are encamped at positions less than 20 kilometres apart near the Islamist-held towns of Mode Mode and Burhakaba areas, 25 and 30 kilometres south-east of Baidoa.
Local residents say they have seen unprecedentedly large numbers of gunmen in the areas and have expressed fear for their lives.
They are already facing danger from devastating floods that UN officials believe could be the worst in 50 years.
'Thousands' of fighters
"I have never seen such a huge number of fighters around Burhakaba," resident Osman Ibarahim Rafiyo told AFP.
"I saw more than 56 armed vehicles and thousands of Islamic militias pouring into the battlefield.
"I think this fighting will take more lives than expected."
Ethiopia, which is mainly Christian and has a a large ethnic Somali population, has watched with growing concern the rise of the Islamists along the south-eastern border.
The Islamists seized Mogadishu in June and now control most of southern and central Somalia.
Ethiopia fears radicalisation of its sizeable Muslim minority by the Islamists, some of whom are accused of links to Al Qaeda, who have imposed strict Sharia law in areas they control.
On Sunday and Tuesday, the Islamists said their holy warriors had carried out attacks on Ethiopian military targets around Baidoa.
UN experts say a huge influx of arms and materiel has been sent to Somalia, in violation of a 1992 arms embargo.
Source: AFP, Nov 25, 2006