Somali Crisis Continues!

UIC Militias Occupy Key Port and Ethiopian Troops March in Baidoa!

The Somali Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) said Ethiopia has declared war against Somalia and the Islamic Courts will defend their land. Ten vehicles of Ethiopian troops have entered South Somalia yesterday in their way to Baidoa to support the very weak transitional government. Ethiopia denied sending troops to occupy Somalia, or to help the government against the UIC.

"The incursion of Ethiopian troops into Somalia territories is a declaration of war on Somalia," said UIC national security chairman Sheikh Yusuf Indahaadde. He calls on international community to urge Ethiopia to withdraw its troops from Somalia. He warns "if that doesn't happen the consequences of insecurity created by Ethiopia will spread to neighbouring countries and to the East Africa as a whole."

The Somali government spokesman Abdurrahman Dinari denied that any Ethiopian had crossed the border and said the reports were being fabricated by the Islamists to distract attention from their advance into Kismayo.

The UIC took control of the key port city of Kismayo on Sunday after the Defence Minister Barre Hilraale and his forces fled their headquarters in the city. Thousands of Somalis are reported to have fled the city. The UIC occupied the city to prevent it being used to bring foreign peacekeepers into the country, as requested by the interim government.

Prime Minister Ali Mohamed Ghedi has appealed for international help against "al-Qaeda" and "terrorists" expansion, as he appealed for regional help saying "I would appeal to the governments of the region to join our efforts and protect the region from the expansion of this al-Qaeda network, these terrorists."

The UIC have repeatedly denied having any links to al-Qaeda and said to only seek restoring security and stability to Somalia. Somalia has never gained effective national government for more than 15 years, and the last government of Siad Barry had built the country nothing than a military dictatorial system.

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