Somali Chief Calls For 'Holy War' Against Ethiopian Troops

michael_ital · Post by **michael_ital** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 11:37 pm

Jul. 21, 2006. 11:52 AM
ASSOCIATED PRESS

MOGADISHU, Somalia Â— An Islamic militia leader whose forces control the capital called for a holy war Friday against Ethiopian troops protecting Somalia's weak UN-backed government.

Sheik Hassan Dahir Aweys, speaking on Radio Shabelle, said Ethiopia's decision to send troops to protect the transitional government in Baidoa, about 240 kilometres northwest of Mogadishu, must be met with war.

"I am calling on the Somali people to wage a holy war against Ethiopians in Baidoa," said Aweys, accused by the United States of having ties to al-Qaida. "They came to protect a government which they set up to advance their interests."

Residents of Baidoa reported seeing hundreds of Ethiopian troops, in uniform and in marked armoured vehicles, entering Baidoa on Thursday and taking up positions around transitional President Abdullahi Yusuf's compound. Ethiopian and Somali government officials have denied Ethiopian troops are in the country, though witnesses from five towns reported seeing them.

"Abdullahi Yusuf is in the pocket of Ethiopia," Aweys said in the countrywide broadcast. "He's been a servant of Ethiopia for a long time."

Islamic militants had rallied people to condemn the presence of Ethiopians after Friday prayers.

Demonstrators in Mogadishu shouted anti-Ethiopian and anti-U.S. slogans as they marched in the capital, accompanied by dozens of Islamic militiamen and trucks mounted with heavy weapons.

"We are against Ethiopian troops invading our country," read some of the banners carried by demonstrators, most of them men.

"God is Great!" shouted the protesters.

Radical Islamic militia, however, later gunned down two people during a rare demonstration against the rulers of Mogadishu.

"We don't want Islamic movements!" the protesters shouted before fleeing the gunfire, the Banabir radio station reported.

Baidoa residents appeared unfazed by the presence of Ethiopian troops. Tensions sparked by fears of attacks by Islamic militants eased Friday in the town.

The troops, wearing military uniforms, deployed near the Somali president's home in Baidoa, at the airport and on the outskirts of the town, residents said by telephone.

Ethiopia's move could give the internationally recognized Somali government its only chance to curb the increasing power of the militia, known as the Supreme Islamic Courts Council.

But Ethiopia's incursion also could be the pretext the militiamen need to build public support for a guerrilla war. Militiamen already control the capital and most of the rest of southern Somalia.

Ethiopia continued to deny its troops were in Somalia.

"There are no Ethiopian troops who have crossed the border into Somalia," Ethiopian Foreign Ministry spokesman Solomon Abebe told The Associated Press. "How can they tell who is Somali and who is Ethiopian?"

Reliance on Ethiopia appears to make the Somali government beholden to the country's traditional enemy and hurts its legitimacy. Anti-Ethiopia sentiment still runs high in much of this almost entirely Muslim country, which is why the government and Ethiopia, a mostly Christian country, may want to keep the troop deployment quiet.

The neighbouring countries are traditional enemies, although Somalia's president has asked Ethiopia for its support.

The United States urged Ethiopia on Thursday to exercise restraint and said the European Union, the United States, the African Union, the Arab League and others in a contact group will meet soon to discuss the situation.

Somalia has been without an effective central government since warlords toppled dictator Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991 and then turned on each other, carving much of the country into armed camps ruled by violence and clan law.

On Wednesday, the Islamic militia reached within 30 kilometres of Baidoa, prompting the government to go on high alert. The militia began pulling back Thursday as more than 400 Ethiopian troops entered Baidoa.

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan expressed concerns about the increased tensions and urged dialogue, according to a UN statement released Thursday.

The United States has accused the Supreme Islamic Courts Council of links to al-Qaida that include sheltering suspects in the deadly 1998 bombings of U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. In a recent Internet posting, al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden urged Somalis to support the militants and warned nations not to send troops.

The Islamic militia has installed strict religious courts, sparking fears it will become a Taliban-style regime.

Ethiopia sent troops into Somalia in 1993 and 1996 to quash Islamic militants attempting to establish a religious government.

During the first round of Arab League-mediated talks in Khartoum, Sudan, the government and the Islamic group agreed to stop all military action, though the Islamic group has been engaged in clashes and military deployments since.

The government first balked at a second round but agreed to resume talks under pressure from the contact group of foreign governments and international organizations.

mahamed99_sex · Post by **mahamed99_sex** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 11:40 pm

iam for it,its time somalians united and help their fellow bothers,the onfl.

Gedo_Boy · Post by **Gedo_Boy** » Sat Jul 22, 2006 12:21 am

Not many people know a top-ranking US General (John Abizaid) was in Ethiopia recently talking about terrorism.

http://www.mg.co.za/articlepage.aspx?ar ... eid=274921

DawladSade · Post by **DawladSade** » Sat Jul 22, 2006 12:30 am

hawiye axmaaro ha dareemaan.

jihaad markaan 1996 ilama 1998 kula jirnay halkay bey joogaan?? kuwa wadaada hada iska dhigahayaa axmaarada u sacab tumayee.

HAWIYOO AXMAARO ISKA CELI. walle reer gedo inaysaun isu sacrifice garaynen howl iyagu looga dan lahayn Exclamation

michael_ital · Post by **michael_ital** » Sat Jul 22, 2006 12:38 am

Interesting development. What I wouldn't af given to be a fly on the wall during that convo.

P.S That's a good site. Some of the other links were quite provocative. Especially "Ethiopia vows to 'crush' Somali Islamist attack" .Them's fightin' words! Mad

http://www.mg.co.za/articlePage.aspx?ar ... s__africa/

Gedo_Boy · Post by **Gedo_Boy** » Sat Jul 22, 2006 12:43 am

michael-ital,

This case in Somalia is going to be a prime example for skeptical people that this isn't a war on terror, but a disguised war on Islam.

Why?

It's mere assertion & allegation that anybody in Somalia has anything to do with terrorism. The Ethiopians could have easily manufactured a terror incident, and then say that Sheikh 'so and so' is the 'alleged' perpetrator.

In fact, if they take a look at what the UIC has done to combat lawlesseness, instability, even removing the roadblocks & providing safety for the people, you would see it is the oppositte of terror.

But Islam is a complete ideological threat to the current status quo and these are efforts to combat it.

Anyone that wants to live/govern according to Islam is labeled an Islamofascist nowadays.

Gedo_Boy · Post by **Gedo_Boy** » Sat Jul 22, 2006 1:12 am

cubeed,

It will be you next if the Amxaaro are succesful. Don't be too blind.

That's like a sheep farm on Eid ul Adha, everytime one is selected, the other ones go: "I'm glad it wasn't me Exclamation

"

michael_ital · Post by **michael_ital** » Sat Jul 22, 2006 2:18 am

Gedo

The term "terrorist" is the best things that's happened to the oppressive regimes in the West and their lackeys. it always has been a war on Islam, right from the time the first bomb dropped in Afghanistan. Now ANYone alligning himself with Islamists runs the almost certain risk of being labelled "terrorist", and thus has the misfortune of having open season declared on him. Now even the sad sack habaashii's are in on the game.

"The Ethiopians could have easily manufactured a terror incident, and then say that Sheikh 'so and so' is the 'alleged' perpetrator."

That may just be a prophecy yet to come. I wouldn't consider it out of the realm of a distinct possibility in the near future. especially with Yusuf on the ropes, and almost down for the 10 count. His knees are wobbly, and he's about to fall. So as a last ditch effort, he's resorted to the humiliating position of s'ucking Ethio ass to defend his position and his residence. sad and pathetic indeed. His short lived "reign" is over. Because if there's one thing i've learned about Somali's, it's that once you lose face in the manner Yusuf has, you NEVER regain it. So it wouldn't surprise me if he did manufacture a "terror incident" to garner world sympathy and support.

Gedo_Boy · Post by **Gedo_Boy** » Sat Jul 22, 2006 2:39 am

michael-ital,

But the Somalis have very strong intution......I doubt they will fall for terror accusations like the general anesthetized world does.

Most Somalis know this is the beginning of a war on Islam.

The day Yussuf brings up the word 'terror' he will go the same fate as the warlords did......when the Somali public heard 'terror' they were able to put 2 and 2 together.

The times of fighting by proxy warlords are pretty much waning for Ethiopia.....that's why I think Abizaid was in Ethiopia, to urge a more direct & forceful role while the US gives them support & political cover.

....And such is the fate of 3rd world countries......they get a superpower representative with a promise of sticking it through with him, and then they do his bidding.

If things get worse for Meles Zenawi on the homefront, and he is battling Somalis in Somalia in a long, drawn out insurgency.....he thinks that Abizaid is gonna bail him out.

Abizaid doesn't have the budget to bail out Meles if it hits the fan in Addis' internal politics.......and it can easily spiral out of control for him.

Steeler [Crawler2] · Post by **Steeler [Crawler2]** » Sat Jul 22, 2006 4:26 am

Hope the Somalis enjoy the wonderful and wise leadership of Aweys and Indhacade. A couple of fine fellows they are.

So, the Haber Gedir get to rule at last, if things go the way you are predicting. It took them a while to work an angle, but hey got it.

kambuli · Post by **kambuli** » Sat Jul 22, 2006 10:46 am

Amxaaro is the enemy of Somalis.... They were killing Somalis for ever... Sad that all the time some of us were rejoicing or calling names to the people they were killing all the time...Sad that some of us think that the Amxaaro artillery can discreminate Somalis Sad

To them Somalis are Somalis....

And BTW Amxaaro was in our country way too long before now... Incase some of you are not aware their helicopters land anywhere in Somalia...They rape Somali women anywhere and no one says anything...

Every war lord visits them... We have been seeing it for a long time...There was one time I wrote about this visitation and I asked "When did Addis become the Xaramkii?"

Steeler [Crawler2] · Post by **Steeler [Crawler2]** » Sat Jul 22, 2006 11:07 am

I love the way this is called a Jihad. Muslims call every war they are in, even against other Muslims, a Jihad. Don't Muslims have wars of national defense?

eyes-only · Post by **eyes-only** » Sat Jul 22, 2006 11:09 am

First of all, I listened to the interview and he said the Somali people everywhere; whether in Somalia or abroad should unite to defend their country against Ethiopian occupation. He said fighting for your land and religion is what is permitted in Islam after being asked by the reporter whether he was asking people to Jihad against Ethiopia. In fact didnÂ’t even use that word but I guess that is not really the issue here.

The warlords that were evicted from Xamar are all going to Ethiopia and Baidoa. These are people that have supposedly been banned from IGAD countries who are now being armed by Ethiopia. The government is still using its ridiculous line that the troops in Baidoa and the surrounding areas are Somalis wearing donated Ethiopian uniform. I guess the Ethiopian flags and helicopters were also donated to the transitional government. Laughing

WeÂ’ll see what happens next. The Islamic courts are unlikely to take the first strike, they only respond to attacks. The peace talks are off by the looks of it and the transitional government who is increasingly looking Ethiopian is going to run off to Ethiopia. I donÂ’t think the people of Puntland are going to welcome the government to sit there. I donÂ’t even think the Kenyans who kicked them out are going to let them back in when they are kicked out of Baidoa. I think the president and prime minister have already enrolled to learn Amharic and Tigrean. Good Luck to them.

Af_libaax · Post by **Af_libaax** » Sat Jul 22, 2006 11:35 am

FaqashTi Dawladsade

AmXaaro kuwii u sacab tumamaayey MaX'ed dheere iyo xulufadiisi Markii Xamar laga saaray ayaad shanboqol oo MareeXaan u dirteen , Isaga iyo AmXaaradiisi , marka maadhoow ma Caqligaad ka bugtaan mise tabar Xumaa idiin gaysay ? ! mark this Amxaaro will loose this War ! or will be the begginning of AmXaaro Collapse .

Somaali Waxa loo Ciqaabay Waa damiir Xummada ku badatay dad Walaalohood ah oo maalin walba Amxaaro ku xasuuqayso Ogadinya ayey dhagaha kafuraysteen , markaasa cara Alle iyagii laysku hoojiyey

marka Faqashoow intaad Hawiye u bugtid , AmXaarka aidska qaba ka ilaalso reerahaaga .

,

Steeler [Crawler2] · Post by **Steeler [Crawler2]** » Sat Jul 22, 2006 12:50 pm

The highlanders and Somalis have been fighting forever. What makes this time different?