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Ethiopia attacks Somalia airport Ethiopia attacks Somalia airports
(about 1 hour later)
Ethiopian jets have bombed Mogadishu international airport in Somalia. Ethiopian jets have bombed two airports in Somalia in a widening operation against an Islamic militia group.
At least one person was reported injured but a plane carrying leaders of the Islamic group that holds the city landed on the runway afterwards. Jets hit the international airport in the capital, Mogadishu, and another at Balidogle, in the south of the country.
The Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) has been fighting Somalia's weak interim government and its Ethiopian backers.The Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) has been fighting Somalia's weak interim government and its Ethiopian backers.
Ethiopia's prime minister has said his country is "at war" with the Islamists, and the Red Cross has urged all parties to protect civilians from harm.Ethiopia's prime minister has said his country is "at war" with the Islamists, and the Red Cross has urged all parties to protect civilians from harm.
Thousands of Somalis have fled the escalating violence, and the Red Cross says the fighting is straining an already weak support system in the country.Thousands of Somalis have fled the escalating violence, and the Red Cross says the fighting is straining an already weak support system in the country.
Red Cross official Pedram Yazdi told the BBC that the organisation was treating 445 people injured during the fighting, including combatants and civilians.Red Cross official Pedram Yazdi told the BBC that the organisation was treating 445 people injured during the fighting, including combatants and civilians.
Aircraft are taking some two tonnes of supplies into Somalia from Kenya each day in an effort to keep hospitals adequately supplied, he said.Aircraft are taking some two tonnes of supplies into Somalia from Kenya each day in an effort to keep hospitals adequately supplied, he said.
Town capturedTown captured
Two senior leaders of the UIC, Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys and Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, landed at Mogadishu shortly after the Ethiopian air strike, a clear sign that the attack did not disable the runway.Two senior leaders of the UIC, Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys and Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, landed at Mogadishu shortly after the Ethiopian air strike, a clear sign that the attack did not disable the runway.
The airport was recently reopened by the UIC - which holds most of central and southern Somalia.The airport was recently reopened by the UIC - which holds most of central and southern Somalia.
The government is getting military help from EthiopiaThe BBC's Adam Mynott, in the region, says the attack is a clear indication that Ethiopia is carrying through its threat to hit Islamist positions in pursuit of what it claims is self-defence. The government is getting military help from EthiopiaThe Ethiopian government said it hit the two airports to stop "unauthorised flights", the AFP news agency reported.
The BBC's Adam Mynott, in the region, says Ethiopia is carrying through its threat to hit Islamist positions in pursuit of what it claims is self-defence.
A spokesman for the UIC, Abdirahman Janaqow, told the Associated Press that the Islamists would stand firm against Ethiopia.A spokesman for the UIC, Abdirahman Janaqow, told the Associated Press that the Islamists would stand firm against Ethiopia.
"We will overcome the Ethiopian troops in our land. Our forces are alert and ready [to] defend our country," he said at the airport. "We will overcome the Ethiopian troops in our land. Our forces are alert and ready [to] defend our country," he said at Mogadishu airport.
As Ethiopia struck Mogadishu airport, Somali and Ethiopian troops forced Islamist forces to withdraw from one flashpoint close to the border. As Ethiopia struck, Somali and Ethiopian troops captured a checkpoint outside the flashpoint town of Beledweyne.
Troops captured a checkpoint outside the town of Beledweyne and UIC forces then left the town, the scene of sustained fighting on Sunday. UIC forces then left the town, the scene of sustained fighting on Sunday.
There were also reports of heavy fighting at the central flashpoint of Burhakaba, close to the seat of Somalia's transitional government in Baidoa.There were also reports of heavy fighting at the central flashpoint of Burhakaba, close to the seat of Somalia's transitional government in Baidoa.
Fresh fighting between Somali government forces and the UIC erupted last week.Fresh fighting between Somali government forces and the UIC erupted last week.
'No meddling''No meddling'
On Sunday Ethiopia admitted for the first time its troops were fighting in Somalia and began attacking the UIC across a 400km (250 mile) front line along the border.On Sunday Ethiopia admitted for the first time its troops were fighting in Somalia and began attacking the UIC across a 400km (250 mile) front line along the border.
We are not trying to set up a government for Somalia, nor do we have an intention to meddle in Somalia internal affairs Meles ZenawiEthiopian Prime Minister Q&A: Islamist advance Town on brink of war Can war be averted? PM Meles Zenawi said Ethiopia was forced to defend its sovereignty against "terrorists" and anti-Ethiopians.We are not trying to set up a government for Somalia, nor do we have an intention to meddle in Somalia internal affairs Meles ZenawiEthiopian Prime Minister Q&A: Islamist advance Town on brink of war Can war be averted? PM Meles Zenawi said Ethiopia was forced to defend its sovereignty against "terrorists" and anti-Ethiopians.
"We are not trying to set up a government for Somalia, nor do we have an intention to meddle in Somalia internal affairs. We have only been forced by the circumstances," Mr Meles said."We are not trying to set up a government for Somalia, nor do we have an intention to meddle in Somalia internal affairs. We have only been forced by the circumstances," Mr Meles said.
"We want to end this war urgently and we hope that Ethiopian people stand by the defence forces.""We want to end this war urgently and we hope that Ethiopian people stand by the defence forces."
The UIC, which has seized control of much of southern and central Somalia, says Ethiopian troops have been fighting alongside government forces for months.The UIC, which has seized control of much of southern and central Somalia, says Ethiopian troops have been fighting alongside government forces for months.
The Islamist group - which controls most of the south, including the capital, Mogadishu - on Saturday appealed for foreign fighters to join its troops in a "holy war" against Ethiopia.The Islamist group - which controls most of the south, including the capital, Mogadishu - on Saturday appealed for foreign fighters to join its troops in a "holy war" against Ethiopia.
The UN estimates that at least 8,000 Ethiopian troops may be in the country, while rival Eritrea is said to have deployed some 2,000 troops in support of the Islamic group.The UN estimates that at least 8,000 Ethiopian troops may be in the country, while rival Eritrea is said to have deployed some 2,000 troops in support of the Islamic group.
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