The Islamic alliance in control of key areas of Somalia on Monday urged world powers to pressure Ethiopia to withdraw troops from Somali territory, saying it would spawn more bloodshed in the Horn of Africa nation.
Islamic clerics said several hundred Ethiopian troops had crossed into Somalia over the weekend and were headed to the headquarters of the fledgling Somali transitional government in Baidoa, about 250km from the capital.
“We call on the international community to pressure Ethiopia to remove its troops from Somalia territory in order to avoid another conflict,” said Sheikh Ali Hassan, an official in the Joint Islamic Courts.
The Islamic militia, which routed United States-backed warlords in recent weeks, has been growing in influence, taking control of several regions and threatening the already limited power of the Somali transitional government.
Over the weekend its leader, Sheikh Shariff Sheikh Ahmed, warned that the presence of troops from Ethiopia, an historic rival, would spark more conflict in a country already savaged by 15 years of inter-clan fighting.
Addis Ababa has denied the incursion charge but said it boosted troop levels along the countries’ common border because of unspecified provocation by the Islamists.
There was no independent confirmation of the charge. But the Ethiopian foreign ministry said the Somali government must be protected from attacks.
The largely powerless government has accused the courts of faking the Ethiopian incursion claim in order to attack Baidoa.
The lawmakers suggested their Baidoa government seat would be the latest victim of a fresh Islamist push into new territory, after the militias took Mogadishu earlier this month and extended their control to outposts near the Ethiopian border.
The fighting over four months of clashes with the US-backed warlord alliance claimed at least 360 lives and wounded more than 2 000 others.
The Islamists have argued vehemently against accusations by the US and others that they have links to al-Qaeda and harbour foreign fighters, and that those people helped them clinch their recent victories.
Attempts by Yemen to launch mediation talks failed when the Baidoa government refused to meet the dominant militia until it surrenders territory now under its control and recognises President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed as the legitimate Somali leader.
Somalia has lacked an effective government since dictator Mohamed Siad Barre was toppled in 1991. More than 14 international efforts have failed to restore a functioning administration in the lawless nation of 10 million. — AFP