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Somali militia 'still in hiding' Somali militia 'still in hiding'
(30 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 people were seriously injured in 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.
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 currently 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 significantly tightened its border security to prevent any 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 commentsHAVE 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 the UIC of having links with al-Qaeda and sent heavily armed troops into Somalia to back up forces loyal to the transitional government.
Islamists say their retreat from the troops is tactical and have threatened to launch an insurgency. A two-week advance by Ethiopian troops swept the Islamist militias from areas they had controlled for six months.
The Islamists say their retreat is tactical and have threatened to launch an insurgency.
Weapons demandWeapons 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 destabilise 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		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 believed the bulk of the fighting was over, has given the residents until today to surrender arms.
In a city of two million people, it is estimated there are at least one million weapons. But few residents have responded to the call and the demand for AK-47 rifles, hand grenades and land mines has risen.
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. In a city of two million people, there are an estimated one million weapons.
Our reporter says although calm has returned, tension is high and people fear anarchy may return to Mogadishu. The BBC's Mohammed Olad Hassan in the capital says the truck came under attack after a dispute over the money to be paid to the militia which was manning a road block.
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. Our reporter says, although calm has returned, tension is high and people fear anarchy may return to Mogadishu.
Power vacuum threatPower 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 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 fretsI 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 he wants to withdraw his troops 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 to prevent a vacuum 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. Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni has offered to commit 1,000 troops to a 8,000-strong regional peace force backed by the African Union.
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. The AU commissioner for peace and security said he hoped other African countries would contribute to a peacekeeping force.
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.
"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.
Four thousand refugees were reported to be stranded in the area.
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