(SomaliNet) Somali’s powerful Islamic Courts Union said on Monday that it would not attack Ethiopia – the ICU seems to draw back its ultimatum given to Ethiopians to quit Somalia. Speaking to Shabelle Radio in Mogadishu, Sheik Abdirihin Ali Mudey, the head of information and communication department of Islamic Courts, said that recent remarks by his Islamic movement over that it would attack Ethiopian troops if they do not withdraw from Somalia was mistranslated and misunderstood. “We did not mean to attack Ethiopian forces if they do not withdraw from our country but we meant it as to set condition for starting talks with Ethiopian government so the statement of ICU was misinterpreted,” Sheik Ali Mudey said. He said the Islamic Courts Union is still in its position to repel Ethiopian troops out of Somalia. “By the time Ethiopian forces are in our soil, the ICU with the help of its people is ready to fight against invaders,” he said.
His latest comments came as today is the last day of a week given to Ethiopian government to withdraw its troops from Somalia or would face the prospect of war but earlier Addis Ababa described the Islamist threat as laughable. Meanwhile, Sheik Ali Mudey, spokesperson for Islamic Courts Union, said the resignation of the current transitional federal government in Biadoa city is the only solution for the Somalia crisis and could avoid civil war.