SOMALIA: Recruits into Somali's Islamic courts militia undergo rigourous training as they prepare to fight Ethiopian backed government troops.

Islamic courts officials have started rigourous recruitment of all Somalis who are ready to defend their nation against any foreign troops invasion, with particular emphasis on defending their land against their bitter rivals Ethiopia. The Islamists have rapidly expanded their influence, effectively flanking the Western-backed interim government, based in the provincial town of Baidoa, on three sides. "These Militias are ready to defend their country and their religion, and today they surrendered their weapons to the Islamic courts, and also we are ready to work with them," said Islamic courts rehabilitation officer, Sheikh Hassan Yackub. They seized the port of Kismayo, 500 kms (311 miles) from Mogadishu without firing a shot. Ethiopia has come out in the open to say that they are training the security staff of Somalia's interim government, a move that fuelled more tension in the Horn of Africa country, Somalia. The Islamists leaders have repeatedly urged Somalis to defend their country against an Ethiopian military presence. "There is no one forcing us, we came here to take the orders of Allah and we are seeking asylum in our religion," former commander of Juba valley militia, Abdullahi Fanax said. Witnesses say Ethiopia -- the most powerful country in the region -- is bolstering the interim government by sending troops to Baidoa. Addis Ababa denies sending troops to Somalia, but the Interim government said Ethiopia was helping the administration. Uganda has already said they are ready to deploy 1,000 troops in Somalia as part of a controversial peacekeeping plan proposed by the Horn of Africa nation's interim government but opposed by rival Islamists. East African leaders have pushed ahead with the contested plan, despite a military deal between Somalia's rival powers that appeared to block foreign intervention. Regional body Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), which led talks that produced Somalia's interim government in 2004, has urged the African Union to speed up the approval of the proposed peacekeeping mission. The Islamists, who took Mogadishu in June and have expanded further since, say they will fight any foreign soldiers who land on Somali soil. Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden has said such an intervention would justify jihad.

ITN Source | October 19, 2006

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