Somali Islamists say will resist the Ethiopian troops

Jan 3, 2006 (MOGADISHU) — Somali Islamists who reject the declared amnesty by the interim government, promised to resist Ethiopian troops in the country. They said no negotiations with the government as far as the Ethiopians remain in Somalia.

The fleeing Islamist spokesperson, Abdelrahim Ali Mudey, who spoke to Shabeelle Radio in Mogadishu, said they did not need the amnesty extended to them by the Somali transitional government.

Mudey told Shabeelle Radio by the phone that Islamists senior officials were in Somalia and being defended by their tribesmen. “We did not go beyond our country. We will keep fighting until all Ethiopian troops leave our country”, he said.

Asked if they would give up their ambition of fighting and join the Somali government, he said they were ready to talk with government officials if the Ethiopian troops leave Somalia.

Mudey refused to say where exactly they are in the country, he simply said, “I cannot say where we are but we are in Somalia and we are not afraid any more”, he said, adding that senior Islamists like Sheikh Sharif and Sheikh Aweys are also in the country.

He criticized Hussein Aydid, Somalia’s internal affairs minister, for urging the Somali people to accept that Somalia and Ethiopia be combined as one nation and be united with one passport. “I heard the news that Aydid said Somalia and Ethiopia should be one country. That is irresponsibility of him and his remarks disappoint many Somali citizens”, he said.

Islamists fled their last stronghold on the mid night of 1 January after Ethiopian and government troops supported by tanks and MiG fighter jets entered the port city of Kismayo and chased the remnants of Islamists in the area.

Mudey said, “If the world thinks we are dead, they should know we are alive and will continue the jihad against the infidels in our country”. He said they would never yield to forgiveness of the transitional government.

(Radio Shabeelle)