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| Africa Horn | |
| Ethiopian, Somali Troops Regain Jowhar | |
| 2006-12-27 | |
| MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) -- Attacking at dawn, Ethiopian and Somali government troops on Wednesday drove Islamic fighters out of the last major town on their road to the Islamic-held capital. A former warlord who ruled the town of Jowhar before it was captured by the Council of Islamic Courts in June led the Somali government troops as they drove into the city, a resident said. "Ethiopian troops and Mohammed Dheere have entered the city," said Abshir Ali Gabre. Hundreds of people fled Jowhar, anticipating major fighting, but others seemed resigned to it after suffering from drought and flooding over the last two years. "We do not know where to escape, we are already suffering from floods, hunger and disease," Abdale Haji Ali said from Jowhar. "We are awaiting death." Ethiopia sent fighter jets streaking deep into militia-held areas Sunday to help Somalia's U.N.-recognized government push back the Islamic militias. Ethiopia bombed the country's two main airports and helped government forces capture several villages. Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi said Tuesday that Ethiopian forces may soon wrap up their offensive against the Islamic militias that until recent days controlled most of southern part of the country. The Islamic fighters, meanwhile, threatened a "new phase" in the war - a chilling pronouncement from a movement that has threatened a guerrilla war that would include suicide bombings in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia's capital.
Two years ago, the United Nations helped set up a central government for the arid, impoverished nation on the Horn of Africa. But until the past week, it had little influence outside of its seat in the city of Baidoa, about 140 northwest of Mogadishu. The country was largely under the control of warlords until this past summer, when the Islamic militia movement pushed them aside. One critical issue is whether the central government can win the support of Somalis. Many resent Ethiopia's intervention because the countries have fought two wars over their disputed border in the past 45 years. | |
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