SOMALIA: Islamic courts in Bur Hakaba exhibit documents they claim were seized from dead Ethiopian troops

Somali Islamists and pro-government troops fought heavy artillery and mortar duels on Monday (December 25), while Government allies bombed two airports controlled by the Islamists in a seven day of clashes. With both sides claiming to have an upper hand on military fronts, the Islamic officials were exhibiting documents they claimed to have recovered from Ethiopian troops during the battle. According to the Islamist, the documents were seized from troops who died while fighting. The U.N. Security Council eased the already widely ignored arms embargo on Somalia to enable the peacekeepers to legally bring in arms and train and equip local security forces. It also endorsed African peacekeepers to help prop up the interim government in chaotic Somalia but also urged the authorities to pursue peace talks with their Islamist rivals. A resolution adopted unanimously by the 15-nation council said Somalia's transitional federal government offered "the only route to achieving peace and stability" in the northeast African nation that has been without an effective central government since 1991. "When the Security Council lifted the arms embargo on Somalia, immediately they started to attack us and we were ready for dialogue to solve the problem of Somalia in Khartoum," Islamic courts information minister Sheikh Abdirahim Muudeey said. The Islamic movement had earlier called for Islamic fighters from all over the world to join their ranks and fight a holly war against Ethiopia who they accused of being invaders. "We call on all Somalis to join us to continue with the fight and we are ready to fight till last minute," said a militia Osman Mohamed who is associated with Islamic Courts. The government is encircled by Islamist fighters in its south-central provincial base Baidoa and has no control over its borders. The government is defended by neighbouring Ethiopia which on Sunday (December 24) began launching air strikes against the Islamists. Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi says he is waging war against the religious movement to protect his nation's sovereignty, intensifying a conflict that threatens to engulf the Horn of Africa. Ethiopian fighters planes bombed 2 airports controlled by Islamic movement earlier on Monday (December 25) just an hour before the leader of Islamic courts landed from a foreign trip.

ITN Source | December 25, 2006

Tags:. .defended. .council. .threatens. .african. .movement