Top > World > 2006 > December > 2006-12-29

Somalia: Hundreds Killed in Clashes between Militias and Army

A worrisome development in the Horn of Africa, as hundreds of people lay slain, Sunday, from battles that took place between Islamic militias and soldiers loyal to the weak Somali government supported by Ethiopian soldiers. The fighting broke out after a Islamic militia called Council of Islamic Courts, related to al-Qaida, declared war on Ethiopia, because of the military support it is supplying to Somalia`s government.

Eye witnesses told reporters that Ethiopian fighter jets attacked a highway and a recruiting center in the Somali town, Belet Weyne, controlled by militia forces, and which is located about 300 Km north of the capitol Mogadishu. Berhan Hailu, the Ethiopian Information Minister, said Ethiopian forces fought together with Somali soldiers in Dinsoor, Bandiradley and Bur Haqaba, as well.

The Islamic militias, trying to impose Islamic law in Somalia, called on Muslim warriors to join them in Jihad against Ethiopia. The Islamic militants say that predominantly Christian Ethiopia has in effect invaded Somalia. Both sides of the conflict claim to have killed hundreds of enemy combatants since the clashes began Tuesday. The violence in the area has raised worries that the war will spread and will become a regional war engulfing Eritrea and Ethiopia. Eritrea is supporting the Islamic militias in Somalia. Both sides are fighting for domination of Somalia. While Eritrea backed Islamic militias are devoted to enacting Islamic law in the country. The UN-backed government supported by Ethiopia wishes a secular and stable government take control of the country, which hasn`t had an effective government since the early 90s.