More conflict in post-war Somalia, 4 dead (Reuters)

[Eugene]

More conflict in post-war Somalia, 4 dead

By Sahal Abdulle

2 hours, 46 minutes ago

MOGADISHU (Reuters) - Somali gunmen battled government and Ethiopian troops
on Saturday in a crowded Mogadishu market, killing four people in the latest
flare-up after a war that ousted Islamists, witnesses and officials said.

The shootout -- following mortar strikes on the presidential palace after dark on
Friday -- was the latest flare-up in a guerrilla-style campaign against the allied
forces who ended the Islamists' six-month rule of the south at the New Year.

Civilians caught up in the melee said a gunman with an AK-47 opened fire on an
Ethiopian military convoy at the livestock market in the north of the capital,
triggering a heavy shootout.

-snip-

AFRICAN PEACEKEEPERS?

The African Union (AU), which approved a peacekeeping force for Somalia late
on Friday, said the unabated violence in Mogadishu showed the need for quick
deployment.

-snip-

Full article: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070120/wl_nm/somalia_conflict_dc

According to a report from the Associated Press, the SICC has claimed responsibility
for the convoy attack.

Also:
Ethiopia 'set for Somali pullout' - BBC
Somali Warlord Surrenders Guns, Militia - AP

[Eugene]

1. Somali Warlord Surrenders Guns, Militia (AP)

Somali Warlord Surrenders Guns, Militia


Saturday January 20, 2007 2:01 PM

AP Photo XSA102, XSA101, XSA103

By MOHAMED SHEIKH NOR

Associated Press Writer

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) - The last major warlord in Somalia surrendered his
weapons and 200 militiamen to the army on Saturday, while an Islamic leader
claimed responsibility for a string of guerrilla attacks and promised there
would be more until the government agreed to talks.

In a major step toward helping the fledgling government consolidate power,
one of the most feared warlords in Somalia, Mohamed Dheere, gave the army
chief 23 trucks mounted with heavy weapons and ordered 220 of his fighters
to report for retraining at government camps. The handover took place
during a ceremony in Dheere's stronghold of Jowhar, 55 miles north of
Mogadishu, said Abdirahman Dinari, the government spokesman.

But fears of an Islamic fundamentalist insurgency grew following an ambush
Saturday morning on a convoy of Ethiopian troops in Mogadishu. Late Friday,
government troops repelled an attack on the Somali president's palace.

-snip-

"This is a new uprising by the Somali people," said Ahmed Qare, deputy
chairman of the council. "The only solution can be reconciliation and talks
between the transitional federal government and the Islamic courts."

-snip-

Full article: http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6359017,00.html

[Eugene]

2. Somalis urged (by US) to meet Islamists (BBC)

Last Updated: Saturday, 20 January 2007, 12:47 GMT

Somalis urged to meet Islamists

Somalia's transitional government should hold talks with moderate members
of the country's Islamist movement, the US ambassador to Kenya has urged.

Michael Ranneberger told the BBC that the government needed to engage
with all elements of Somali society.

-snip-

Reaching out

The US has been among those accusing the Islamic courts of harbouring al-Qaeda
suspects, claims the UIC's leaders deny.

But Mr Ranneberger told the BBC that among extremists there were moderate
elements who should be included in dialogue.

-snip-

Full article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6281961.stm

[Warren Stupidity]

3. Post war? How wildly optimistic.

Once again we think that overwhelming conventional forces can topple inconvenient regimes and that the 'job' is then done. How long does Ethiopia intend to occupy Somalia? Perhaps they ought to proceed with annexation, as they are going to be there forever anyway.

[maddezmom]

4. was wacthing Aljazerra this am and it was reported the US is still launching airstrikes

couldn't find a word about it on yahoo or google.

[maddezmom]

5. just as I posted this was posted in LBN

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2697727