24/10/08 (B470-B) Shabelle : Les tribunaux islamiques imposent le couvre-feu, la nuit, dans la vielle de Jowhar. // Islamists to impose night curfew on Jowhar town (En Anglais – Info lecteur)

Islamic courts union fighters who are in charge of the control of Somalia’s Jowhar town have announced a curfew that would be in the town from Thursday night, an official said

Officials in the town said the 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew is designed to ensure the southern town is secure.

But it also appeared to be a show of strength by the militant movement, which is trying to topple the nation’s fragile government.

"The curfew will start tonight Thursday night and will go on until we secure the town," said an official in the UIC in jowhar.

Jowhar locates 90km north of Mogadishu.

Islamist fighters on guns mounted vehicles could be seen passing areas in the town including the main streets and markets.

Nearly two years ago, the Islamic courts movement launched an insurgency in this impoverished country, but Kismayo is the biggest city it has seized since early 2007.

The militants lost control of the capital and much of southern Somalia in December 2006, when Ethiopian troops, backing Somali soldiers, ousted them.

Somalia has been at war since 1991, when clan-based militias ousted a socialist dictator and then fought for power among themselves.

The conflict is complicated by clan loyalties and the involvement of archenemies Eritrea and Ethiopia, who back opposite sides in the fighting Mareeg