This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/africa/6230809.stm
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Somali militia 'still in hiding' | Somali militia 'still in hiding' |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Somalia's interim interior minister has claimed there are some 3,500 Islamist fighters still hiding in the capital. | Somalia's interim interior minister has claimed there are some 3,500 Islamist fighters still hiding in the capital. |
| His comments come as three passengers have been seriously injured after a rocket attack on a truck in Mogadishu. | His comments come as three passengers have been seriously injured after a rocket attack on a truck in Mogadishu. |
| Uganda's president is in Ethiopia to discuss forming an African force to stabilise the country. He is expected to also meet US envoy Jendayi Frazer. | Uganda's president is in Ethiopia to discuss forming an African force to stabilise the country. He is expected to also meet US envoy Jendayi Frazer. |
| US naval forces are deployed off the Somali coast to prevent leaders of the defeated Islamic Courts escaping. | US naval forces are deployed off the Somali coast to prevent leaders of the defeated Islamic Courts escaping. |
| A two-week advance by Ethiopian troops swept the Islamist militias from areas they had controlled for six months. | A two-week advance by Ethiopian troops swept the Islamist militias from areas they had controlled for six months. |
| Location of militias and US navy patrols | Location of militias and US navy patrols |
| Ethiopian soldiers are hunting for a group of about 600 Islamist fighters near the border between Somalia and Kenya. | Ethiopian soldiers are hunting for a group of about 600 Islamist fighters near the border between Somalia and Kenya. |
| Kenya has also significantly tightened border security to stop an influx of fleeing fighters, as aid agencies called for help for genuine refugees. | Kenya has also significantly tightened border security to stop an influx of fleeing fighters, as aid agencies called for help for genuine refugees. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY The only solution in Somalia is sincerity of all the stakeholders Nwamaka Chude, Nigeria Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY The only solution in Somalia is sincerity of all the stakeholders Nwamaka Chude, Nigeria Send us your comments |
| The UIC had brought a degree of stability to large areas of the formerly lawless country. | The UIC had brought a degree of stability to large areas of the formerly lawless country. |
| But Ethiopia accuses them of al-Qaeda links, and sent heavily armed troops into Somalia to back up forces loyal to the weak transitional government. | But Ethiopia accuses them of al-Qaeda links, and sent heavily armed troops into Somalia to back up forces loyal to the weak transitional government. |
| Islamists say their retreat from the troops is tactical and have threatened to launch an insurgency. | Islamists say their retreat from the troops is tactical and have threatened to launch an insurgency. |
| Weapons demand | Weapons demand |
| "There are 3,500 Islamists hiding in Mogadishu and the surrounding areas and they are likely to destabilize the security of the city," Interior Minister Hussein Aideed told journalists at a news conference on Thursday. | "There are 3,500 Islamists hiding in Mogadishu and the surrounding areas and they are likely to destabilize the security of the city," Interior Minister Hussein Aideed told journalists at a news conference on Thursday. |
| SOMALIA IN NUMBERS Ethiopia troops: 8,000-15,000Government troops: 10,000Islamists:600 near Kenyan border3,500 around MogadishuRecently displaced: 30,000Refugees in Kenya: 160,000 Estimated numbers Sources: Somali government, UN, correspondents | |
| Interim Prime Minister Ali Mohammed Ghedi, who said earlier he felt the bulk of the fighting was over, has given the residents up to Thursday to surrender arms. | Interim Prime Minister Ali Mohammed Ghedi, who said earlier he felt the bulk of the fighting was over, has given the residents up to Thursday to surrender arms. |
| In a city of two million people, it is estimated there are at least one million weapons. | In a city of two million people, it is estimated there are at least one million weapons. |
| The BBC's Mohammed Olad Hassan in the capital says the truck was heading to a town in Middle Shabelle region and was attacked after a dispute over the money to be paid to the militia who were manning a road block. | |
| Our reporter says although calm has returned, tension is high and people fear anarchy may return to Mogadishu. | Our reporter says although calm has returned, tension is high and people fear anarchy may return to Mogadishu. |
| Most of the residents have not responded to calls to surrender arms to the government and instead the demand for AK-47 rifles, hand grenades and land mines has risen. | Most of the residents have not responded to calls to surrender arms to the government and instead the demand for AK-47 rifles, hand grenades and land mines has risen. |
| Power vacuum threat | Power vacuum threat |
| Ms Frazer, US assistant secretary of state for Africa is also in the Ethiopian capital for talks on Somalia. | Ms Frazer, US assistant secretary of state for Africa is also in the Ethiopian capital for talks on Somalia. |
| I still hope that key AU members will be glad to associate their name in what I believe is the most important peace undertaking in the recent history of Africa AU's Said Djinnit Fragile peace fuels fears African press frets | I still hope that key AU members will be glad to associate their name in what I believe is the most important peace undertaking in the recent history of Africa AU's Said Djinnit Fragile peace fuels fears African press frets |
| The BBC's Amber Henshaw in Addis Ababa says the talks could be just the solution the Ethiopian prime minister is looking for. | The BBC's Amber Henshaw in Addis Ababa says the talks could be just the solution the Ethiopian prime minister is looking for. |
| Meles Zenawi has made it clear over the last two weeks he wants to withdraw his troops from across the border as soon as possible - within the next few weeks. | Meles Zenawi has made it clear over the last two weeks he wants to withdraw his troops from across the border as soon as possible - within the next few weeks. |
| The Ethiopians want international peacekeepers to be deployed as soon as possible to prevent a vacuum opening up which would allow the re-emergence of former warlords who controlled the country since 1991. | The Ethiopians want international peacekeepers to be deployed as soon as possible to prevent a vacuum opening up which would allow the re-emergence of former warlords who controlled the country since 1991. |
| Mr Aideed said that there are about 12,000-15,000 Ethiopian troops in Somalia, although Ethiopia has put the number much lower, at around 4,000. | Mr Aideed said that there are about 12,000-15,000 Ethiopian troops in Somalia, although Ethiopia has put the number much lower, at around 4,000. |
| A leaked UN report suggested there were an estimated 8,000 Ethiopian troops in the country before the December intervention; Addis Ababa only admitted to sending military trainers. | A leaked UN report suggested there were an estimated 8,000 Ethiopian troops in the country before the December intervention; Addis Ababa only admitted to sending military trainers. |
| Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni has already offered to commit 1,000 troops to a 8,000-strong regional peace force backed by the African Union. | Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni has already offered to commit 1,000 troops to a 8,000-strong regional peace force backed by the African Union. |
| The AU commissioner for peace and security said he hoped African countries would contribute to a peacekeeping force. | The AU commissioner for peace and security said he hoped African countries would contribute to a peacekeeping force. |
| "I still hope that key AU members will be glad to associate their name and the name of their country in what I believe is the most important peace undertaking in the recent history of Africa," Said Djinnit told the BBC's Network Africa programme. | "I still hope that key AU members will be glad to associate their name and the name of their country in what I believe is the most important peace undertaking in the recent history of Africa," Said Djinnit told the BBC's Network Africa programme. |
| On Wednesday, Ethiopian and Somali government forces captured the border town of Doble, one of the final places held by the Islamists. | On Wednesday, Ethiopian and Somali government forces captured the border town of Doble, one of the final places held by the Islamists. |
| Four thousand refugees were reported to be stranded in the area. | Four thousand refugees were reported to be stranded in the area. |
| Return to top | Return to top |