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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Somali troops close in on capital | Somali troops close in on capital |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Ethiopian and Somali government forces have reached the outskirts of the Somali capital, Mogadishu, after Islamist forces abandoned the city. | Ethiopian and Somali government forces have reached the outskirts of the Somali capital, Mogadishu, after Islamist forces abandoned the city. |
| Eyewitnesses say the Somali forces were welcomed by cheering crowds. | Eyewitnesses say the Somali forces were welcomed by cheering crowds. |
| Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi said his forces were consulting Somali officials and elders in Mogadishu about what steps to take next. | Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi said his forces were consulting Somali officials and elders in Mogadishu about what steps to take next. |
| In recent days Ethiopian troops have helped the interim government capture ground previously held by Islamists. | |
| Somali troops and their Ethiopian allies have taken the Hiilweyne and Arbiska barracks about 20km (12 miles) from central Mogadishu. | Somali troops and their Ethiopian allies have taken the Hiilweyne and Arbiska barracks about 20km (12 miles) from central Mogadishu. |
| The BBC's Mohammed Olad Hassan, in the city, says clan militiamen appeared as soon as the news of the withdrawal emerged early on Thursday, and offices of the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) have been looted. | |
| Conflict in pictures Violence alarms press US keeps a close watch | 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. Rising insecurity has forced most businesses to stop trading. | Residents in the north of the city have reported cars and mobile phones being stolen. 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 has plagued the city and Somalia for 16 years. | Observers say the UIC's departure leaves a power vacuum in Mogadishu, raising fears of a return to clan warfare that has plagued the city and Somalia for 16 years. |
| In Ethiopia, Prime Minister Meles said: | In Ethiopia, Prime Minister Meles said: |
| "We will act on the basis of the advice of the transitional government and in consultation with the elders of Mogadishu but at the moment we are not in Mogadishu, we are just outside." | "We will act on the basis of the advice of the transitional government and in consultation with the elders of Mogadishu but at the moment we are not in Mogadishu, we are just outside." |
| Defiant | Defiant |
| Islamic fighters have fled towards the port city of Kismayo, their last remaining stronghold, 300 miles (500km) to the south. | Islamic fighters have fled towards the port city of Kismayo, their last remaining stronghold, 300 miles (500km) to the south. |
| A senior UIC official Omar Idris said the retreat was "not the end". | A senior UIC official Omar Idris said the retreat was "not the end". |
| 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 | 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 |
| He told the BBC's World Today radio programme: "We know what happened in Iraq... 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: "We know what happened in Iraq... I think this is very, very early to say that the Islamic Court forces were defeated." |
| 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. |
| The UIC has its roots in the north of the capital Mogadishu. | The UIC has its roots in the north of the capital Mogadishu. |
| 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. |