 | Moved to today since a good bloodletting like this needs to breathe. AoS. |
Somalia's Islamist leader today declared war on Ethiopia as fears grew that the conflict could spread across the horn of Africa.
Western diplomats quaked in their lace knickers fear that the heavy fighting between the Somalia Islamic Courts Council (SICC) and its Ethiopian-backed interim government could escalate into a regional war involving both Ethiopia and its rival Eritrea.
Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys, leader of the SICC, told Reuters today: "We are at war with Ethiopia, but not with the [Somali] government."
| Hassan's never been told not to bite off more than he could chew ... |
He told the Associated Press: "All Somalis should take part in this struggle against Ethiopia."
| "C'mon people now, smile on your brother, everybody get together, time to kill one another right now ..." |
The Islamist group's troops exchanged heavy artillery fire with the interim government's forces for the third day running. It is the most sustained combat so far between the rival Somali factions, struggling for control of the country, which has been in a state of anarchy since 1991.
| Heavy artillery means a .50 cal on a technical? |
 The fighting started late on Tuesday, the deadline the SICC had given Ethiopian troops protecting the weak government to leave the country or face holy war. Both sides claim to have killed hundreds but there is yet no confirmation of casualties.
The latest round of clashes began early today near Dinosaur Dinsoor, 62 miles south-west of the interim government's base in Baidoa. Sheikh Ibrahim Shukri Abuu-Zeynab, a spokesman for the SICC, claimed it had captured Idaho Idale, a town 37 miles south-west of Baidoa, killing 200 Ethiopian troops.
Somalia's deputy defence minister, Salad Ali Jelle, said 71 Islamist fighters had been killed and 221 injured so far during clashes in three locations near military training camps around Baidoa. Three government troops were killed and seven injured, he claimed.
Residents and a government source said troops loyal to both sides also appeared to be moving north, in what some feared could spell fresh fighting in the town of Galkaayo. The latest outbreak of violence appears to have scuttled diplomacy efforts by the European Union aid chief, Louis Michel, who held talks with both factions in Baidoa and Mogadishu yesterday.
| Fierce diplomacy from the EU, that's what we need. |
Military experts say Ethiopia has sent 15,000-20,000 troops into Somalia, while Eritrea has sent about 2,000 to the SICC.
Ethiopia remains officially silent on the declaration of war, repeating its denial of involvement in the fighting. But witnesses have told Reuters that the country's troops are heavily involved in the latest battles. Analysts believe Ethiopia may soon raise the stakes by deploying attack helicopters in support of the government.
| At which point the Courts Council gunnies are going to become very afraid ... |
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