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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Envoy seeks to prevent Somali war | Envoy seeks to prevent Somali war |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A European Union envoy is in Somalia to push for peace talks between Islamist forces which control much of the country and the interim government. | A European Union envoy is in Somalia to push for peace talks between Islamist forces which control much of the country and the interim government. |
| EU development chief Louis Michel has held talks in Baidoa, the seat of the weak transitional government. | EU development chief Louis Michel has held talks in Baidoa, the seat of the weak transitional government. |
| As he arrived, there was heavy fighting and at least one death reported near Idale, some 60km south of the town. | |
| On Tuesday, an Islamist deadline expired for Ethiopia to withdraw troops from Somalia or face "major attacks". | |
| Mr Michel will also travel to the capital, Mogadishu, to meet one of the leaders of the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC). | |
| If conflict breaks out in Somalia, it is feared it could engulf the region. | |
| See map of potential flashpoints | See map of potential flashpoints |
| 'Dialogue' | 'Dialogue' |
| The BBC's Adam Mynott in Baidoa says the town though remains is in a precarious situation, with guns seen everywhere. | The BBC's Adam Mynott in Baidoa says the town though remains is in a precarious situation, with guns seen everywhere. |
| There are soldiers armed with AK-47s, technicals - pick-up trucks mounted with heavy weapons - and Ethiopian troops at Baidoa airport, he says. | There are soldiers armed with AK-47s, technicals - pick-up trucks mounted with heavy weapons - and Ethiopian troops at Baidoa airport, he says. |
| The Islamists have been receiving assistance from Eritrea | The Islamists have been receiving assistance from Eritrea |
| Mr Michel has held talks with Prime Minister Ali Mohamed Ghedi, and is meeting with MPs before flying to the capital. | Mr Michel has held talks with Prime Minister Ali Mohamed Ghedi, and is meeting with MPs before flying to the capital. |
| On Tuesday, Ethiopian Information Minister Birhan Hailu told the BBC that his country was always ready for dialogue, but said the Islamists were not willing to talk with the transitional government. | On Tuesday, Ethiopian Information Minister Birhan Hailu told the BBC that his country was always ready for dialogue, but said the Islamists were not willing to talk with the transitional government. |
| "We don't have troops in Somalia, but as we have said so many times, we have a limited number of military advisers to support the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia. | "We don't have troops in Somalia, but as we have said so many times, we have a limited number of military advisers to support the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia. |
| "The Ethiopian government is always ready to have peace talks with anybody in Somalia, and we wish a peaceful solution to the problem in Somalia." | "The Ethiopian government is always ready to have peace talks with anybody in Somalia, and we wish a peaceful solution to the problem in Somalia." |
| Earlier this week, the UIC appeared to backtrack on an ultimatum for Ethiopians troops to leave Somalia or face a holy war. | |
| UIC spokesman Abdi-Rahiin Ali Mudey said the Islamists would not attack the Ethiopians or Baidoa, but wanted talks. | UIC spokesman Abdi-Rahiin Ali Mudey said the Islamists would not attack the Ethiopians or Baidoa, but wanted talks. |
| War | War |
| But other Islamist officials are being reported as saying they are "now in the last stages of preparing for full-scale war" against Ethiopian forces inside Somalia. | But other Islamist officials are being reported as saying they are "now in the last stages of preparing for full-scale war" against Ethiopian forces inside Somalia. |
| The government says talks could resume if the Islamists stopped making threats. Last week, interim President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed ruled out any further talks. | |
| Islamic leaders deny accusations of al-Qaeda links. | Islamic leaders deny accusations of al-Qaeda links. |
| Minor clashes have broken out between the two rivals, the most recent in Idale, but neither side has launched a large offensive. | Minor clashes have broken out between the two rivals, the most recent in Idale, but neither side has launched a large offensive. |
| "Last evening, a reconnaissance team from the government and the Islamic courts clashed. But this morning, ground troops from both sides exchanged mortars from a distance," the government's deputy defence minister, Salad Ali Jelle, told Reuteres news agency on Wednesday. | "Last evening, a reconnaissance team from the government and the Islamic courts clashed. But this morning, ground troops from both sides exchanged mortars from a distance," the government's deputy defence minister, Salad Ali Jelle, told Reuteres news agency on Wednesday. |
| On Saturday, Islamist leader Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed said the movement was prepared for "dialogue" with Ethiopia. | On Saturday, Islamist leader Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed said the movement was prepared for "dialogue" with Ethiopia. |
| In Yemen, he announced a deal with the speaker of the Somali parliament to resume talks after they collapsed last month. | In Yemen, he announced a deal with the speaker of the Somali parliament to resume talks after they collapsed last month. |
| Click to return | Click to return |