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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
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| Somalia 'needs force quickly' | Somalia 'needs force quickly' |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The international contact group on Somalia has called for urgent funding for a peacekeeping mission in the war-torn country. | The international contact group on Somalia has called for urgent funding for a peacekeeping mission in the war-torn country. |
| The call came as Somalia's interim President, Abdullahi Yusuf, urged a "speedy deployment" by an African Union force. | |
| He said there was a rare chance for a real political breakthrough in Somalia, plagued by violence for 15 years. | He said there was a rare chance for a real political breakthrough in Somalia, plagued by violence for 15 years. |
| He was speaking at a meeting of US, European and African envoys in Nairobi. | He was speaking at a meeting of US, European and African envoys in Nairobi. |
| In Somalia itself, government forces backed by Ethiopian troops are fighting fleeing Islamists near Kenya's border. | In Somalia itself, government forces backed by Ethiopian troops are fighting fleeing Islamists near Kenya's border. |
| A message from an al-Qaeda leader urged the Islamist militias to fight "crusaders". | A message from an al-Qaeda leader urged the Islamist militias to fight "crusaders". |
| Location of militias and US Navy patrols | Location of militias and US Navy patrols |
| The talks come amid fears that a protracted Iraq-style guerrilla war could be launched by the retreating Islamists, says the BBC's Karen Allen in Nairobi. | The talks come amid fears that a protracted Iraq-style guerrilla war could be launched by the retreating Islamists, says the BBC's Karen Allen in Nairobi. |
| 'Crusader battlefield' | 'Crusader battlefield' |
| Mr Yusuf said an 8,000-strong African Union force agreed by the UN Security Council before the current hostilities should be deployed as soon as possible. | Mr Yusuf said an 8,000-strong African Union force agreed by the UN Security Council before the current hostilities should be deployed as soon as possible. |
| I speak to you today as the crusader invader forces of Ethiopia violate the soil of the beloved Muslim Somalia... Ayman al-Zawahri Excerpts of Zawahiri message Fragile peace fuels fears African press frets | I speak to you today as the crusader invader forces of Ethiopia violate the soil of the beloved Muslim Somalia... Ayman al-Zawahri Excerpts of Zawahiri message Fragile peace fuels fears African press frets |
| He also called for extra funds for the government and for aid work. | He also called for extra funds for the government and for aid work. |
| "Your actions would enable us to achieve objectives which not only have great significance for our people but also for the people of the sub-region as a whole," Reuters news agency quoted his speech to the diplomats as saying. | "Your actions would enable us to achieve objectives which not only have great significance for our people but also for the people of the sub-region as a whole," Reuters news agency quoted his speech to the diplomats as saying. |
| Ethiopia's Prime Minister, Meles Zenawi, has said he wants his heavily armed forces - which are supporting Somali soldiers against the Islamists - out of the country in a matter of weeks. | Ethiopia's Prime Minister, Meles Zenawi, has said he wants his heavily armed forces - which are supporting Somali soldiers against the Islamists - out of the country in a matter of weeks. |
| Meanwhile, an audio message from al-Qaeda's number two, Egyptian-born Ayman al-Zawahri, called for the Islamists to use guerrilla tactics in Somalia. | Meanwhile, an audio message from al-Qaeda's number two, Egyptian-born Ayman al-Zawahri, called for the Islamists to use guerrilla tactics in Somalia. |
| "I speak to you today as the crusader invader forces of Ethiopia violate the soil of the beloved Muslim Somalia," the five-minute tape posted on a website used by militants said. | "I speak to you today as the crusader invader forces of Ethiopia violate the soil of the beloved Muslim Somalia," the five-minute tape posted on a website used by militants said. |
| "I call upon the Muslim nation in Somalia to remain in the new battlefield that is one of the crusader battlefields that are being launched by America and its allies and the United Nations against Islam and Muslims." | "I call upon the Muslim nation in Somalia to remain in the new battlefield that is one of the crusader battlefields that are being launched by America and its allies and the United Nations against Islam and Muslims." |
| Regional peacekeeping | Regional peacekeeping |
| The EU's Javier Solana told the BBC that the EU was closely monitoring the situation. | The EU's Javier Solana told the BBC that the EU was closely monitoring the situation. |
| SOMALIA IN NUMBERS Ethiopia troops: 8,000-15,000Government troops: 10,000Islamists: 600 near Kenyan border; 3,500 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 border; 3,500 around MogadishuRecently displaced: 30,000Refugees in Kenya: 160,000 Estimated numbers Sources: Somali government, UN, correspondents |
| "We would like to see a government as inclusive as possible and, at the same time, troops from Ethiopia will have to slowly withdraw and be substituted either by troops from the AU or eventually by troops from the UN," he said. | "We would like to see a government as inclusive as possible and, at the same time, troops from Ethiopia will have to slowly withdraw and be substituted either by troops from the AU or eventually by troops from the UN," he said. |
| Assistant US Secretary of State Jendayi Frazer has indicated that the US government would be on hand to assist in any regional peacekeeping effort. | Assistant US Secretary of State Jendayi Frazer has indicated that the US government would be on hand to assist in any regional peacekeeping effort. |
| But our correspondent says the US is treading carefully. It was blamed for backing the warlords who until last June ruled for 15 violent years. | But our correspondent says the US is treading carefully. It was blamed for backing the warlords who until last June ruled for 15 violent years. |
| In Addis Ababa, Uganda and Ethiopia are discussing the deployment of peacekeepers with the AU. | In Addis Ababa, Uganda and Ethiopia are discussing the deployment of peacekeepers with the AU. |
| Meanwhile, Kenya's government has shut its border with Somalia, despite criticism from the United Nations' refugee agency. | Meanwhile, Kenya's government has shut its border with Somalia, despite criticism from the United Nations' refugee agency. |
| US naval forces are deployed off the Somali coast to prevent leaders of the UIC escaping. | US naval forces are deployed off the Somali coast to prevent leaders of the UIC escaping. |
| Return to top | Return to top |