| I believe the pattern is to deny it, then a couple days later take the objective and ignore any cries of "Toldja so." |
The Islamic Courts Union, a militia controlling much of Somalia, has rejected claims from the government that it is advancing on a strategic port. The denial came after the Somali government's ambassador to Ethiopia said on Wednesday that the Islamist union was planning to capture Kismayo in the south of the East African country. Abdikarim Farah, told Reuters on the sidelines of an African Union meeting in Addis Ababa: "The Islamic Courts' forces are marching to occupy Kismayo. This is a challenge to the TFG [Transitional Federal Government]... The Islamic Courts are not going to succeed by choosing military means, it has to renounce this option."Kismayo is the largest port in the south. It is controlled by an independent militia, the Juba Valley Alliance - led by Colonel Abdikadir Adan Shire, who is also known as Barre Hiraale. Shire is the present defence minister.