By Andrew Cawthorne MOGADISHU, June 18 (Reuters) – Somalia’s interim government on Sunday accused Islamists who have become a major threat to its limited authority of lying about an Ethiopian troop incursion as a pretext to attack its headquarters.
The Islamist militias, who have rapidly seized a strategic swathe of Somalia and flanked the government’s temporary base in Baidoa, said on Saturday 300 Ethiopian troops had crossed into the country.
That has raised fears the Islamists — who say they only want peace — have plans to keep seizing new territory and establishing sharia courts as they grow in strength against a weak government with little territorial control.
Addis Ababa vigorously denied the invasion charge by Sheikh Sharif Ahmed, head of the Islamic Courts Union that led the militias. Somalia’s government said on Sunday that accusation was “absolutely baseless.”
“It is a new strategy that the sharia courts are using as an excuse to attack Baidoa. But they (Ethiopia) have mobilised their own border because of the changing situation in Somalia,” government spokesman Abdirahman Dinari said.
“They have the right to mobilise their own troops if they fear trouble.”
Ethiopia, a strong backer of interim President Abdullahi Yusuf that was instrumental in his election at peace talks in Kenya in late 2004, has said it was watching the border closely.
It has not hesitated before to enter Somalia to fight Islamic forces.
Earlier this month the Islamists routed from the capital Mogadishu and other key towns a group of warlords who have presided over much of the anarchy in Somalia since the 1991 ousting of Mohamed Siad Barre.
The fighting has killed 350 people in street battles since February.
“I fear conflict if they will not stop their expansion and attacks,” Dinari said of the Islamists.
The Islamists say they have no plans to seize more land nor impose Islamic rule.
Although both sides said they wanted dialogue immediately after the Islamists took control of Mogadishu, the public tone has worsened since the government approved a plan on Wednesday to bring in foreign peacekeepers opposed by the Islamists.
The courts say they are willing to talk but not with any pre-conditions.
“We are ready if the sharia courts recognise the government, and are ready also,” Dinari said.
Despite the government’s international support and legal authority, the Islamists have popular support for restoring order and firm military control of the capital and other key points.
The top sharia court hierarchy was meeting in Jowhar on Sunday to plot strategy with sources saying a split was emerging between moderates and hardliners, who want the Islamic militia to move towards Baidoa.
“In the next few weeks, I think you will see a split — some say we should continue the fight, others say let’s consolidate what we have and seek dialogue,” said one Somali analyst, who asked not to be named.
Source: Reuters, June 18, 2006
