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Somali government proclaims take-over of Islamists' territories
2007-01-02
The Ethiopia-backed Somali government has said it has wrested control of territories in the country's southern and central regions from Islamists, as a disarmament drive in the capital Mogadishu looked an uphill struggle. "The government has gained control of southern and central Somalia. We will ensure that we restore law and order in those parts of the country," Information Minister Ali Jama told AFP Tuesday. In Addis Ababa, Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi appealed for international funding for his country's military intervention in Somalia, saying his troops would withdraw within weeks. "We don't have the money to take the burden individually. The international community should provide funding," Meles told parliament in Addis Ababa, adding that the cost of the campaign had been "huge". Jama said the government exercised control over the port town of Kismayo, the Islamists' last stronghold, ending a dramatic military campaign that was spearheaded by Ethiopian tanks, warplanes and infantry units. "We will pursue them (Islamists) until we ensure that they are out of this country," Jama said. Officials said the Islamists were holed up in Ras Kamboni, a dense forest on the border with Kenya, where authorities boosted aerial and ground patrols to ensure they do not sneak over. Prime Minister Ali Mohamed Gedi said at least 11 Islamist fighters, including Eritreans, had been arrested by Kenyans, but Nairobi said it had seized eight and was probing them to establish their identity. The Islamists, who are accused of links to Al-Qaeda, have conceded defeat after nearly two weeks of clashes, but vowed to wage a guerrilla war against rival troops. Somalia disintegrated into lawlessness after the 1991 ouster of dictator Mohamed Siad Barre. It was carved up among clan warlords, some of whom now back the government. Gedi had vowed to relocate his government from Baidoa, a dusty outpost in south central Somalia, to the capital and carry out a disarmament drive for three days on a voluntary basis after which it would be forceful. But residents laughed the suggestion off and cast doubt on the success of trying this from the first day. An AFP journalist visited one arms collection point but found only officials. "My gun is my profession, I have nothing else to do. Anybody who needs the gun in my hand should give me money. Otherwise any attempt to get it by force will be disastrous," said Mohamed Emir Abdi, 22, a local militia fighter, told AFP. "I have had my gun for more than 10 years and nobody asked me to give it to the government," said Bile Omar Nur, another fighter who lives in south Mogadishu's Paleh village. Giving up his weapon would be "incredible", he said. Other residents welcomed the disarmament notion, but said it was unrealistic, especially in a city with shifting alliances, a high level of mistrust and many sub-clans. "It will be good if all weapons are collected from all local militia and it brings hope," said Hajimao Bimi, 72. "But I am afraid it will not be possible because Somalis do not trust each other (and) we do not expect any Somali individual to give his gun to another Somali," Bimi said. Meles urged Somali leaders to prevent any return of faction warlords blamed for the chaos that transformed Somalia into one of the most dangerous nations in the world. "We call upon the government of Somalia to work hard to prevent warlordism and create an environment so that Somalis can participate in government," Meles told parliament. Gedi has said the Ethiopian troops will stay in Somalia as long as need, a prospect expected to antagonise his compatriots, who fought and lost two previous territorial wars against Addis Ababa. Residents bristled with anger last week when Mohamed Qanyare Afrah, a rich and ruthless warlord, was spotted in his former Mogadishu turf accompanied by a lesser-known faction leader, Abdi Nure Siad. Faced with the intricate nature of the Somali conflict, Kenya's President Mwai Kibaki has announced plans to convene an urgent regional summit to discuss ways of restoring lasting stability in the lawless African nation. Somali watchers have warned that the fall of the Islamists, who ousted warlords from Mogadishu in June, was not a definitive end to the woes that have blighted the nation of 10 million. Gedi also announced the resumption of air traffic to airports in Mogadishu after last week's closure of the country's airspace.
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