Before almost one week, Islamist forces in Somalia had declared war with Ethiopian-backed government. Now, the interim government’s troops are coming closer to Mogadishu.
According to a top Somali Islamic leader, Sheikh Sharif Ahmed,
the Ethiopian-backed government troops have made an offensive strike here and we have vacated the capital Mogadishu. We have withdrawn all the leaders and members. We left it to avert heavy bombing because Ethiopian forces are practising genocide against the Somali people.
Earlier, Ethiopia has sent its troops for the help of the Somali government and fought together to take control the areas previously held by Islamist militias. Ethiopia did it after the UN Security Council failed to agree on a call for the withdrawal of foreign forces.
According to the AP news agency, hundreds of Islamist gunmen who have fought for the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) took off their uniforms and submitted to the command of clan elders.
According to the reports, the joint force of Ethiopian and Somali government troops have been reached 30 km near from Mogadishu and almost surrounded the capital.
Ethiopia had started a major strike against Islamic militia linked with UIC that was holding control of much of central and southern Somalia.
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