By Sahal Abdulle
Thursday, January 04, 2007
But in a boost for the interim government's efforts to pacify the chaotic Horn of Africa country after a two-week war that ousted the Islamists, Uganda said it was ready to send peacekeepers there as soon as its parliament approves the plan.
The Somalia Islamic Courts Council (SICC), which had imposed sharia law across much of the south, abandoned the capital last week to government troops backed by Ethiopian forces.
Within hours of the Islamists' departure, militiamen loyal to warlords ousted in June reappeared at checkpoints in the city where they used to rob, rape and murder civilians.
"The militias fired three RPGs (rocket-propelled grenades). One of them hit us," the lorry driver, who gave his name as Tusbah, told Reuters as he surveyed the charred wreckage of his vehicle. "They were bandits who wanted money."
Dozens of passengers riding on top of the lorry fled as the gunmen fired automatic rifles before launching grenades.
The swift return of warlords showed how easily Mogadishu could slide back into anarchy.
The attack in Galgalato, 25 km (15 miles) north of the city centre, came on the last day of a three-day government ultimatum for Mogadishu residents and militia to turn in their guns. Few have been turned in.
"I have an AK-47 (Kalashnikov rifle) and a pistol in my house. I will not surrender them because I do not see any trustworthy person to give them to," said a resident who declined to be named. "People have started burying their weapons."
Deputy Defence Minister Salad Ali Jelle said forcible disarmament would begin at the weekend but a government source said this was yet to be finalised.
DIPLOMATIC PUSH
The Somali government wants a foreign peacekeeping force -- approved by the United Nations before the war -- to be deployed as soon as possible.
Meeting his Ethiopian counterpart Meles Zenawi in Addis Ababa, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni said parliament had to approve the deployment of the battalion Kampala has offered.
"The troops are ready but I have consult the speaker of parliament.
As soon as parliament approves, they will be sent to Somalia," he said at a joint news conference with Meles.
Ugandan officials have expressed concerns about sending soldiers to Somalia, saying they need a clear mission and exit strategy.
Meles, who says his troops will stay for another few weeks in Somalia, also met U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Jendayi Frazer.
"Our view is that Somalis should try and set up an inclusive government based on dialogue. The international community should support the Somalia initiative," he said.
"IGASOM is not going to Somalia to pacify the country. It is up to Somalis to achieve that," he added referring to the African peacekeeping mission.
Ethiopian armour and aircraft are helping Somali government troops hunt Islamist fighters who fled their last stronghold in the southern port of Kismayu on Monday, vowing to fight on.
They have melted into the hills and one resident said they had headed for the southern Badamadow forest.
A government source said five foreigners, including some Sudanese nationals, had been arrested at Mogadishu airport on suspicion of aiding the Islamists.
The United States has deployed warships off the Somali coast to hunt fleeing Islamists and Nairobi has declared the land frontier closed, leaving hundreds fleeing the fighting unable to cross over to seek refuge at camps, aid workers say.
Kenyan Foreign Minister Raphael Tuju said suspected fighters holding British, Canadian, Eritrean and Danish passports had been intercepted.
"It is apparent that some of these 'asylum seekers' are combatants on the run," he said.
(Additional reporting by Guled Mohamed and Farrah Robleu in Mogadishu, Sahra Abdi in Kismayu, Tsegaye Tadesse in Addis Ababa, Noor Ali in Garissa and Marie-Louise Gumuchian and George Obulutsa in Nairobi)
Source: Reuters, Jan 04, 2007