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| Islamists abandon Somali capital | Islamists abandon Somali capital |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Islamist fighters have left the Somali capital as government forces backed by Ethiopian troops advance on the city. | Islamist fighters have left the Somali capital as government forces backed by Ethiopian troops advance on the city. |
| As they withdrew, gunfire was heard and armed supporters of the city's warlords began taking control of key facilities. | As they withdrew, gunfire was heard and armed supporters of the city's warlords began taking control of key facilities. |
| Some residents say lawlessness has returned to Mogadishu - which had been under Islamic rule for six months. | Some residents say lawlessness has returned to Mogadishu - which had been under Islamic rule for six months. |
| Ethiopia began a large-scale offensive at the weekend to back Somalia's interim government, capturing ground previously held by Islamist militias. | Ethiopia began a large-scale offensive at the weekend to back Somalia's interim government, capturing ground previously held by Islamist militias. |
| A senior Islamist leader, Sheikh Sharif Ahmed, told al-Jazeera television his forces had left Mogadishu "to avert heavy bombing because Ethiopian forces are practising genocide against the Somali people". | A senior Islamist leader, Sheikh Sharif Ahmed, told al-Jazeera television his forces had left Mogadishu "to avert heavy bombing because Ethiopian forces are practising genocide against the Somali people". |
| The BBC's Mohammed Olad Hassan in Mogadishu says clan militiamen appeared as soon as the news of the withdrawal emerged early on Thursday, and UIC offices have been looted. | The BBC's Mohammed Olad Hassan in Mogadishu says clan militiamen appeared as soon as the news of the withdrawal emerged early on Thursday, and UIC offices have been looted. |
| We have taken over the two control points on the main roads outside the city Abdirahman DinariSomali government spokesman Conflict in pictures Violence alarms press US keeps a close watch | We have taken over the two control points on the main roads outside the city Abdirahman DinariSomali government spokesman Conflict in pictures Violence alarms press US keeps a close watch |
| Residents in the north of the city have reported cars and mobile phones being stolen. | Residents in the north of the city have reported cars and mobile phones being stolen. |
| Rising insecurity has forced most businesses to stop trading. | Rising insecurity has forced most businesses to stop trading. |
| The situation seems to be descending back into anarchy, our correspondent adds. | The situation seems to be descending back into anarchy, our correspondent adds. |
| Observers say the UIC's departure leaves a power vacuum in Mogadishu, raising fears of a return to clan warfare that blighted the city in the 1990s. | Observers say the UIC's departure leaves a power vacuum in Mogadishu, raising fears of a return to clan warfare that blighted the city in the 1990s. |
| Last stronghold | Last stronghold |
| Government forces are reported to be near Afgoye, 20km (12 miles) west of Mogadishu, cutting off the capital to the north and west. | Government forces are reported to be near Afgoye, 20km (12 miles) west of Mogadishu, cutting off the capital to the north and west. |
| Government spokesman Abdirahman Dinari said the army would enter Mogadishu in the "coming hours". | Government spokesman Abdirahman Dinari said the army would enter Mogadishu in the "coming hours". |
| Militia groups allied to the government have taken control of key installations, including the airport, AFP news agency reports. | Militia groups allied to the government have taken control of key installations, including the airport, AFP news agency reports. |
| Earlier, Islamic fighters were seen moving towards the port city of Kismayo, their last remaining stronghold, 300 miles (500km) to the south. | Earlier, Islamic fighters were seen moving towards the port city of Kismayo, their last remaining stronghold, 300 miles (500km) to the south. |
| But a senior UIC official Omar Idris said it was too early to talk of defeat. | But a senior UIC official Omar Idris said it was too early to talk of defeat. |
| "The Ethiopians now are advancing but that is not the end. We know what happened in Iraq, the experience of the Americans... I think this is very, very early to say that the Islamic Court forces were defeated," he told the BBC's World Today radio programme. | "The Ethiopians now are advancing but that is not the end. We know what happened in Iraq, the experience of the Americans... I think this is very, very early to say that the Islamic Court forces were defeated," he told the BBC's World Today radio programme. |
| At the weekend Ethiopia began a major offensive to support the weak government against the UIC - which previously held much of central and southern Somalia. | At the weekend Ethiopia began a major offensive to support the weak government against the UIC - which previously held much of central and southern Somalia. |
| The conflict has killed hundreds of people. The head of the International Red Cross Somalia delegation said it was "extremely concerned about civilians caught up in the fighting". | The conflict has killed hundreds of people. The head of the International Red Cross Somalia delegation said it was "extremely concerned about civilians caught up in the fighting". |
| The African Union has called for Ethiopian forces to leave Somalia. | The African Union has called for Ethiopian forces to leave Somalia. |
| However the UN Security Council has failed to agree on a statement calling for the withdrawal of all foreign forces. | However the UN Security Council has failed to agree on a statement calling for the withdrawal of all foreign forces. |
| Troubled history | Troubled history |
| The UIC has its roots in the north of the capital Mogadishu. | The UIC has its roots in the north of the capital Mogadishu. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY What the Ethiopian government doesn't understand is that it is making a continual enemy to Ethiopians at large Tsegaye Girma, Addis Ababa Send us your comments | |
| Courts administering Islamic law restored order in a city bedevilled by anarchy since the overthrow of former President Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991. | Courts administering Islamic law restored order in a city bedevilled by anarchy since the overthrow of former President Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991. |
| The UIC assumed control of the whole capital in June, driving warlords out and rapidly extending their influence to much of southern Somalia - with the exception of Baidoa, the seat of the transitional Somali government. | The UIC assumed control of the whole capital in June, driving warlords out and rapidly extending their influence to much of southern Somalia - with the exception of Baidoa, the seat of the transitional Somali government. |
| That body, set up in 2004 after talks between Somali factions, has been unable to meet in the capital because of opposition first from warlords, then from the UIC. | That body, set up in 2004 after talks between Somali factions, has been unable to meet in the capital because of opposition first from warlords, then from the UIC. |
| UIC leader Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys is accused by both Ethiopia and the US of having links to al-Qaeda - charges he denies. | UIC leader Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys is accused by both Ethiopia and the US of having links to al-Qaeda - charges he denies. |
| Somalia and Ethiopia have a history of troubled relations, and Islamists have called for a holy war against Ethiopian troops. | Somalia and Ethiopia have a history of troubled relations, and Islamists have called for a holy war against Ethiopian troops. |