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Islamist forces 'quit Mogadishu' Islamists abandon Somali capital
(20 minutes later)
A top Somali Islamic leader says his forces have abandoned the capital Mogadishu, following an offensive by the Ethiopian-backed government. Islamist forces have left the Somali capital Mogadishu, as government troops backed by Ethiopia advance on the city.
"We have withdrawn all the leaders and members," Sheikh Sharif Ahmed told al-Jazeera TV as fighting broke out. A government spokesman told Reuters news agency that Islamic leaders had "dispersed into thin air".
Ethiopia has intervened to back the Somali government, capturing ground previously held by Islamist militias. As the militiamen withdrew, gunfire echoed through the capital and there were reports of looting.
As the militiamen withdrew, gunfire echoed through the streets of the Somali capital. Ethiopia began a large-scale offensive at the weekend to back Somalia's interim government, capturing ground previously held by Islamist militias.
The move came after the UN Security Council failed to agree on a call for the withdrawal of foreign forces. A senior Islamist leader, Sheikh Sharif Ahmed, told al-Jazeera television: "We did not leave the capital to chaos," said Sheikh Ahmed said.
"We did not leave the capital to chaos," said Sheikh Ahmed said.
"We left it to avert heavy bombing because Ethiopian forces are practising genocide against the Somali people," he added."We left it to avert heavy bombing because Ethiopian forces are practising genocide against the Somali people," he added.
Violence alarms press US keeps a close watchViolence alarms press US keeps a close watch
Mogadishu residents have reported seeing convoys of Islamic fighters driving south.Mogadishu residents have reported seeing convoys of Islamic fighters driving south.
Hundreds of gunmen who has just fought for the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) took off their uniforms and submitted to the command of clan elders, the Associated Press news agency reported. Hundreds of gunmen who had just fought for the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) took off their uniforms and submitted to the command of clan elders, the Associated Press news agency reported.
Some began looting UIC buildings, it added.Some began looting UIC buildings, it added.
A joint force of Ethiopian and Somali government troops are reported to be just 30 km (18 miles) from Mogadishu, threatening to besiege the capital.A joint force of Ethiopian and Somali government troops are reported to be just 30 km (18 miles) from Mogadishu, threatening to besiege the capital.
Government spokesman Abdirahman Dinari told Reuters: "Our forces already effectively control Mogadishu because we have taken over the two control points on the main roads outside the city," he said.
At the weekend Ethiopia began a major offensive against militia loyal to the UIC, which previously held much of central and southern Somalia.At the weekend Ethiopia began a major offensive against militia loyal to the UIC, which previously held much of central and southern Somalia.
By Wednesday the Islamists controlled little more than the coast, including Mogadishu and the port city of Kismayo 300 miles (500km) to the south.By Wednesday the Islamists controlled little more than the coast, including Mogadishu and the port city of Kismayo 300 miles (500km) to the south.