Somali Islamists deny Ethiopian troops withdrawal
Jan 25, 2007 (MOGADISHU) — The Somali Islamists militias said they have completed their preparations for war against the Ethiopian troops. The ousted Islamic courts, also, denied the withdrawal of the Ethiopian army describing it as public relation operation.
According to the Somali pro-Islamist website KismaayoNews, the Islamists militias have appointed a new war commander meant to operate only in Banaadir Region, Mogadishu and its environs. The new commander is known as Sheikh Abdiqadir. The website mentioned it will not give the full name for security reasons.
The new commander has regrouped together all the former Islamic courts forces which have been in shambles since Ethiopian captured the country. The first trial operation by the new commander was carried out yesterday when the forces attacked Mogadishu International Airport.
“Yesterday’s attack was a trial by Commander Sheikh Abdiqadir who wanted to see the possibility of attacking the most protected area in Mogadishu by the Ethiopian troops in broad daylight,” an unidentified speaker told Kismaayonews.
When asked whom they were targeting in their upcoming attacks as the Ethiopians would soon be leaving the country, the unidentified speaker said:
“The Tigrayans are not going anywhere. This story of leaving the country is merely ‘public relations’. We are engaging the Tigrayans in a war that would return back to their country so that Prime Minister Meles Zenawi will never rule Ethiopia where he is currently colonizing over 70 million people.
“There will be no more foreign troops that will arrive in Somalia. At the moment, we are engaged in a war with the two enemies of Somalia; the USA and the Ethiopians” he said. “They have now been joined by Kenya. The Islamic courts forces are at the moment discussing how to deal with Kenya,” the speaker added.
This new mobilization by the people of Banaadir Region is going on simultaneously with the war of the mujahidiins in the Jubba regions in southern Somalia where they are inflicting heavy losses on the enemy as the courts’ administration and capability are largely found in these regions.
The Islamic courts forces, which had been controlling the southern port city, Kismayo, before they were ousted by Ethiopian troops.
(ST)