By Sahal Abdulle
October 27, 2006
Armed Islamist militia guard thousands of Somalis in Tarbuunka Square of Mogadishu during a rally to back the ruling Islamists in a holy war they have declared against Ethiopian troops. (Photo by Xiis/HOL)
Surging through Tarbuunka Square, Somalis shouted their support for the Islamists who have called on Somalis to defend the nation and accuse the Ethiopians of invading to protect the Western-backed government.
"I will die for my country and religion," Amran Adan, a mother of five said. "I will take the enemy out of my country."
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Groups gathered around Islamists who took down personal details. "I've registered and will defend my country against Ethiopia," 18-year-old Hussein Farah said. "My parents are happy that I am going for jihad."
The Islamists control Mogadishu and much of southern Somalia and are challenging the authority of the government, now essentially confined to the town of Baidoa.
The Islamists have also been quick to exploit traditional Somali hatred for Ethiopia, which has not hesitated to send troops across the border in the past.
The Islamists declared holy war against Addis Ababa this month after they said Ethiopian soldiers had helped the government briefly seize a southern town.
They later said the jihad was only a means of defending themselves against Ethiopians inside Somalia. Somalis view Ethiopia as a Christian imperialist power.
Addis Ababa denies any incursion although it says it has sent several hundred armed military trainers.
Addressing the Mogadishu crowd, Islamist leader Sheikh Sharif Ahmed urged Somalis to hand over their weapons.
"Whether it is a pistol, arrow, or stones, we will accept them," he said. "We have to defend our country. We call upon all Somalis wherever they might be to take part in this jihad."
"We need to be ready for prolonged war against this enemy who will use air power and heavy weapons against you.
"We will attack them wherever they are in our country, so people near them need to evacuate. We have to clean them out of our country," he said, calling on the Ethiopians to surrender.
Many fear the friction between the Islamists and the interim government of President Abdullahi Yusuf could erupt into a regional war, sucking in Ethiopia and its rival Eritrea, which denies charges of sending weapons to the Islamists.
On Thursday the Islamists stopped three lawmakers, travelling from Mogadishu, from reaching Baidoa.
The Islamists, who said they were protecting the lawmakers from Ethiopian soldiers, effectively flank the administration on three sides and have stopped fuel shipments reaching Baidoa.
Lawmaker Asha Abdallah said on Friday the three legislators were fine and had arrived back in the capital.
Both sides are due to meet in Sudan's capital Khartoum next week for a third round of peace talks. Earlier rounds have produced little other than a promise to recognise each other and not to make any military moves.
Source: Reuters, Oct. 27, 2006