13/12/06 (B373) BBC : les T.I. en Somalie donne un ultimatum à l’Ethiopie pour quitter le pays (En anglais – Info lectrice)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/africa/6171847.stm

Ethiopia deadline to quit Somalia

Somalia’s
powerful Islamist group has given Ethiopian troops a week to leave the country
or face a "major attack".

Ethiopia
has denied having any troops fighting in Somalia but admits sending hundreds
of military trainers to help government forces.

The Islamists
and government forces, allegedly backed by Ethiopia engaged in fierce clashes
on Friday and Saturday.

There
are fears of a regional conflict breaking out in Somalia, which could include
Ethiopian and Eritrean forces.

"Starting
today, if the Ethiopians don’t leave our land within seven days, we will attack
them and force them to leave our country," said Islamist defence chief
Sheikh Yusuf Mohamed Siad "Inda’ade".

He also
urged the international community to put pressure on Ethiopia to withdraw
its troops or they would "be responsible for whatever happens in Somalia".

A UN report
last month accused both Ethiopia and Eritrea, among other countries, of breaking
the arms embargo on Somalia.

The Union
of Islamic Courts (UIC) has taken control of much of southern Somalia, including
the capital, Mogadishu, this year.

The government
only controls the territory around the town of Baidoa.

Last week, the UN
Security Council approved plans to send peacekeepers to protect the government
in Baidoa and amend an arms embargo, despite strong opposition from the UIC.

On Monday,
both sides said they were sending troops to Tiyeglow, on the main road from
the Ethiopia border to Baidoa, following last week’s clashes south-west of
Baidoa.

"Our
fighters, with large number of battle wagons, are now advancing on Tiyeglow,"
said UIC official Mohamed Ibrahim Bilaal.

"We
will go to all border towns in our country to deprive our enemy [Ethiopia]
of a route to enter into our country."

Government
commander Mohamed Ali Gaboobe said they had sent some 700 troops to Tiyeglow
on Sunday to prevent "Islamist expansion".

Correspondents
say the military build-up makes it less likely that any peacekeepers will
be deployed.

On Monday,
Uganda, the only country which has publicly pledged to send troops, said the
situation was now too risky.

The US,
Ethiopia and the Somali government all accuse the UIC of working with al-Qaeda
– an accusation they deny.

Some Islamists
have talked about incorporating Somali-speaking parts of Ethiopia and Kenya
into a "greater Somalia".

Story
from BBC NEWS: