(SomaliNet) More defected militiamen from the weak transitional federal government based in the provincial town of Baidoa in southwest Somalia were reported to have joined on Sunday the Islamic Courts who control the capital and key towns in central and southern of the country — this is another blow to the powerless government. An Islamic courts official confirmed to reporters in Mogadishu that another defected militia from Somalia government chose the right path and joined them. The militia defected from Baidoa some 240km southwest of the capital has reached Barawe district of lower Shabelle region in south of Somalia and then crossed into the capital Mogadishu where they have met a warm welcome from the Islamic Courts for their joining.
They were 35 militiamen armed with two pick up trucks mounted with heavy machineguns. They said their defection came after facing life difficulties from the government and could not stay with what they called enemy troops (Ethiopia).