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Somalia 'needs force quickly' Somalia 'needs peacekeepers soon'
(about 1 hour later)
The international contact group on Somalia has called for urgent funding for a peacekeeping mission in the war-torn country. Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf has called for a "speedy deployment" of peacekeepers in his 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. Ethiopian troops supporting the transitional government ousted Islamist forces less than a week ago.
In Somalia itself, government forces backed by Ethiopian troops are fighting fleeing Islamists near Kenya's border. The US has agreed to provide $10m (£5.2m) towards the funding of a proposed 8,000-strong African Union peacekeeping force.
A message said to be from an al-Qaeda leader urged the Islamist militias to fight "crusaders". So far, only Uganda has pledged to send troops, agreeing to provide 1,000. Nigeria, Rwanda and Tanzania are considering requests.
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 $10m for the peacekeeping force is part of a total of $40m that the US government has pledged to support government efforts to restore stability in Somalia.
'Crusader battlefield' In Somalia itself, Ethiopian troops say they have trapped hundreds of fleeing Islamists in the southern tip of Somalia on the Kenyan border.
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. The US has deployed ships off the coast to hunt those trying to escape by sea.
And in another development, a top al-Qaeda leader has reportedly urged the Islamist militias to fight "crusaders".
Meanwhile, a hotel owner in Nairobi says two Somali MPs loyal to the Islamists have been arrested, although there has been no official police confirmation.
The BBC's Mohamoud Ali says another two Islamist MPs, who criticised Ethiopia's intervention at a news conference on Thursday, have also been picked up in the city.
'New battlefield'
Mr Yusuf was speaking at a high-level meeting of US, European and African envoys in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi.
I speak to you today as the crusader invader forces of Ethiopia violate the soil of the beloved Muslim Somalia... Message said to be from Ayman al-Zawahri 'Al-Qaeda' call for jihad Excerpts of website message Fragile peace fuels fears African press fretsI speak to you today as the crusader invader forces of Ethiopia violate the soil of the beloved Muslim Somalia... Message said to be from Ayman al-Zawahri 'Al-Qaeda' call for jihad Excerpts of website message Fragile peace fuels fears African press frets
He 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.
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 forces out of the country in a matter of weeks.
Meanwhile, an audio message said to be from al-Qaeda's number two, Egyptian-born Ayman al-Zawahiri, called for the Islamists to use guerrilla tactics in Somalia. 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.
An audio message said to be from al-Qaeda's number two, Egyptian-born Ayman al-Zawahiri, 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 peacekeepingRegional peacekeeping
The EU's Javier Solana told the BBC that the EU was closely monitoring the situation. EU foreign policy chief 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 will 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.
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.
Do you think the talks will reslove this conflict? What measures would you like to see brought in? How best can this conflict be ended? Do you think the talks will resolve this conflict? What measures would you like to see brought in? How best can this conflict be ended?
The BBC World Service radio programme World Have Your Say will be discussing this topic at 1800GMT and using comments left here during the show. As a result comments will not appear on this page. The BBC World Service radio programme World Have Your Say will be discussing this topic at 1800GMT and using comments left here during the show. As a result comments will not appear on this page.
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