Somali Islamists vow holy war on Ethiopian troops

ADDIS ABABA – Horn of Africa power Ethiopia said yesterday it was tracking military movements by Somalia’s newly powerful Islamists and would “crush” any attack on President Abdullahi Yusuf’s interim government.

“We will use all means at our disposal to crush the Islamist group if they attempt to attack Baidoa, the seat of the transitional federal government,” Ethiopian Information Minister Berhan Hailu told Reuters in Addis Ababa. Ethiopia backs Yusuf’s secular-based government, which is located in the provincial Somali town of Baidoa, and condemns the Islamist movement, which took the capital Mogadishu last month, as being run by “terrorists”.A move by Islamist militia towards Baidoa on Wednesday heightened fears of conflict between the two sides.”Ethiopia is closely monitoring the jihadist Islamist group which has now returned to Mogadishu after a warning from Ethiopia not to attack Baidoa, the seat of the transitional government,” Hailu added.Reuters witnesses confirmed the return yesterday.Ethiopia is a key player in the current Somali crisis, with experts and sources on the ground saying it has several thousand troops already in Somali territory to deter Islamist advances.Another 20 000 or so are lined up just inside the Ethiopian border, experts say.- Nampa-ReutersEthiopia backs Yusuf’s secular-based government, which is located in the provincial Somali town of Baidoa, and condemns the Islamist movement, which took the capital Mogadishu last month, as being run by “terrorists”.A move by Islamist militia towards Baidoa on Wednesday heightened fears of conflict between the two sides.”Ethiopia is closely monitoring the jihadist Islamist group which has now returned to Mogadishu after a warning from Ethiopia not to attack Baidoa, the seat of the transitional government,” Hailu added.Reuters witnesses confirmed the return yesterday.Ethiopia is a key player in the current Somali crisis, with experts and sources on the ground saying it has several thousand troops already in Somali territory to deter Islamist advances.Another 20 000 or so are lined up just inside the Ethiopian border, experts say.- Nampa-Reuters