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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Ethiopia 'repels Somali militia' | Ethiopia 'repels Somali militia' |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Ethiopia says it has repelled Islamist militia threatening the seat of Somalia's transitional government in the town of Baidoa. | Ethiopia says it has repelled Islamist militia threatening the seat of Somalia's transitional government in the town of Baidoa. |
| PM Meles Zenawi said he hoped to pull out his 3-4,000 troops within a week, following days of heavy fighting. | PM Meles Zenawi said he hoped to pull out his 3-4,000 troops within a week, following days of heavy fighting. |
| However, the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) says it has made a strategic withdrawal from frontlines. | However, the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) says it has made a strategic withdrawal from frontlines. |
| A UN envoy to Somalia has urged the Security Council to call for a halt to fighting, or risk a broader conflict. | A UN envoy to Somalia has urged the Security Council to call for a halt to fighting, or risk a broader conflict. |
| A failure to reach a political settlement "would be disastrous for the long-suffering people of Somalia and could also have serious consequences for the entire region," Francois Lonseny Fall told the 15-nation council in New York. | A failure to reach a political settlement "would be disastrous for the long-suffering people of Somalia and could also have serious consequences for the entire region," Francois Lonseny Fall told the 15-nation council in New York. |
| However, splits have emerged on the council with Qatar insisting that any statement should call for the immediate withdrawal of all foreign forces, including Ethiopia's, from Somalia. | |
| Other council members say that this should not apply to Ethiopian troops, arguing that they are in Somalia at the request of the interim government. | |
| The Security Council is due to resume its discussions later on Wednesday. | |
| Meanwhile, on the ground, the Red Cross says it is treating more than 600 civilians and combatants injured during the fighting. | |
| It has called on all sides to respect the rights of the injured and prisoners. | It has called on all sides to respect the rights of the injured and prisoners. |
| 'Out of the game' | 'Out of the game' |
| Mr Meles told journalists Baidoa was no longer under threat. | Mr Meles told journalists Baidoa was no longer under threat. |
| Ethiopia had already completed half its mission, he claimed - saying many UIC members were "out of the game". | Ethiopia had already completed half its mission, he claimed - saying many UIC members were "out of the game". |
| He claimed as many as 1,000 people had died and 3,000 were wounded. | He claimed as many as 1,000 people had died and 3,000 were wounded. |
| Mr Meles said his forces had found evidence that people from Eritrea and Britain were fighting alongside the UIC militia. | Mr Meles said his forces had found evidence that people from Eritrea and Britain were fighting alongside the UIC militia. |
| On Sunday, Ethiopia admitted for the first time its troops were fighting in the country, saying it was forced to defend its sovereignty against "terrorists" and anti-Ethiopians. | On Sunday, Ethiopia admitted for the first time its troops were fighting in the country, saying it was forced to defend its sovereignty against "terrorists" and anti-Ethiopians. |
| The UN estimates at least 8,000 Ethiopian troops may be supporting the transitional government. | The UN estimates at least 8,000 Ethiopian troops may be supporting the transitional government. |
| Earlier on Tuesday, the African Union (AU) said Ethiopia had the right to intervene militarily in Somalia as it felt threatened by the Islamic militia operating there. | Earlier on Tuesday, the African Union (AU) said Ethiopia had the right to intervene militarily in Somalia as it felt threatened by the Islamic militia operating there. |
| An AU official also acknowledged the body had failed to "react properly and adequately" to the Somali situation. | An AU official also acknowledged the body had failed to "react properly and adequately" to the Somali situation. |
| 'Surrender' | 'Surrender' |
| Ethiopian jets fired at Islamist positions for a third day on Tuesday. | Ethiopian jets fired at Islamist positions for a third day on Tuesday. |
| Since Ethiopia started using air power and heavy artillery, we have changed our tactics and are getting ready for a long war Sheikh Sharif AhmedIslamic Courts leader African Union's Somali test Tough task for Ethiopia | Since Ethiopia started using air power and heavy artillery, we have changed our tactics and are getting ready for a long war Sheikh Sharif AhmedIslamic Courts leader African Union's Somali test Tough task for Ethiopia |
| The town of Burhakaba, one of the Islamists' main bases, is reported to have fallen to forces loyal to Somalia's interim government. | The town of Burhakaba, one of the Islamists' main bases, is reported to have fallen to forces loyal to Somalia's interim government. |
| In recent days, the area around the town - which is close to Baidoa - has been the focus of heavy fighting involving tanks and artillery. | In recent days, the area around the town - which is close to Baidoa - has been the focus of heavy fighting involving tanks and artillery. |
| Speaking from Burhakaba, the Somali deputy defence minister, Salad Ali Jele, told the BBC the government aimed to extend its control across the whole country. | Speaking from Burhakaba, the Somali deputy defence minister, Salad Ali Jele, told the BBC the government aimed to extend its control across the whole country. |
| "The people [in Mogadishu] are already expecting us," he said. | "The people [in Mogadishu] are already expecting us," he said. |
| "We call on the Islamic Courts to surrender... Mogadishu is the capital. It is our duty to go there." | "We call on the Islamic Courts to surrender... Mogadishu is the capital. It is our duty to go there." |
| But the Union of Islamic Courts described its reported pullout from areas in central and southern Somalia as a change of tactics. | But the Union of Islamic Courts described its reported pullout from areas in central and southern Somalia as a change of tactics. |
| A leading UIC official, Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, told reporters in Mogadishu that the retreat merely signalled a new phase in the war. | A leading UIC official, Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, told reporters in Mogadishu that the retreat merely signalled a new phase in the war. |
| "Since Ethiopia started using air power and heavy artillery, we have changed our tactics and are getting ready for a long war," he said. | "Since Ethiopia started using air power and heavy artillery, we have changed our tactics and are getting ready for a long war," he said. |
| Are you or anyone you know near conflict zone? Please send us your experiences and contact details using the post form below. | Are you or anyone you know near conflict zone? Please send us your experiences and contact details using the post form below. |