The new militant Tigray troops move towards Somalia

The new militant Tigray troops move towards Somalia was greeted by harsh words from the Somali militants, who have been trying to take over Somalia and install an Islamic peaceful regime. "We will declare jihad (holy war) if the Ethiopian government refuses to withdraw their troops from Somalia," a top Islamic official, Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed.
The Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Somalia, Francois Lonseny Fall, today urged leaders of the Transitional Federal Government and the Supreme Council of the Islamic Courts to restrain their forces. He urged both sides to resume the dialogue opened in Khartoum on 22 June.The Somali Prime Minister Ali Gedi said Wednesday that Muslim militia had moved to within 40 kilometers (25 miles) of the government's base in Baidoa, about 250 kilometers (155 miles) northwest of the capital Mogadishu, and intended to strike the town in violation of a truce. Dealing with Sheikh Aweys means dealing with Bin Laden, Prime Minister of Somalia Said.The Islamists furiously denied the charge, but allowed that forces loyal to the Supreme Islamic Council of Somalia (SICS) who seized the capital from a US-backed warlord alliance last month after fierce battles, were near Baidoa.Hundreds of Ethiopian troops began patrolling the town of Baidoa in armoured vehicles Thursday, less than a day after Islamic militants moved closer to the base of the weak, United Nations-backed government.The advance on Baidoa by the Islamist had prompted the government to go on high alert and neighbouring Ethiopia to declare it was prepared to invade Somalia to defend the government.The United States is gravely concerned by reports that militia aligned with the Islamic courts are advancing toward Baidoa, the interim locations of the Somalia Transitional Federal Institutions," said State Department spokesman Sean McCormack in a statement.Washington expressed "grave concern" over reports that Somalia's powerful Islamist movement was planning to attack the seat of a transitional government backed by the United States.
Deployment of foreign forces in Somalia - is premature and could make matters worse, Djibouti's Foreign Minister, Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, said. "Djibouti's position is that the main parties in Somalia have embarked on a process of dialogue," Yusuf told HAN, Geeska Afrika and Regional News Agencies. "Let's give that process a chance before we introduce foreign forces."
The two Countries are traditional enemies, but one of the Yemeni Diplomat who refused to mention his name said sadly, "Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed who use to work with the Dergue Regime and now with the Present Tigray Fundamentalist Axumite regime in Gonder appealed Melez Zenawi for his support to destroy the current peace and stability in Southern Somalia."
UIC Chairman Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed said: "What Somalis need today is assistance in holding consultations, negotiating with each other and resolving their differences by talking to each other."
Ambassador Francois Fall. “I appeal to both sides to respect the ceasefire and other provisions of the Khartoum agreement, including their commitment to refrain from any provocations that could lead to an escalation of the situation,” he said. “The place to deal with differences is at the negotiating table.” Sources: HAN, ENA, UN and Local sources.

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