Somalia edges closer to war as peace talks fail

Ethiopian troops, who crossed the border three days ago to support the Somali government, made further incursions yesterday, while a leading figure in the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) said anyone siding with the Ethiopians would be considered a traitor.

The UIC, which defeated an alliance of US-backed warlords last month to take control of the capital, Mogadishu, refused to attend the talks, blaming the arrival of the Ethiopian troops.

As many as 5,000 Ethiopian soldiers are believed to have crossed the border. The UIC has vowed to wage "jihadi war" against Ethiopia, while Ethiopia has promised to "crush" the Islamists if they attempt to take control of Baidoa, the town where the government is based.

The heat of the rhetoric was increased further when Sheikh Sharif Ahmed, a senior Islamist leader who is considered to be one of the more moderate figures within the UIC's leadership, said Somalia is now "under attack". Ethiopian troops yesterday increased their presence in Baidoa, helping to guard the parliament, airport and presidential palace. There were also reports that they had taken control of a second town in western Somalia. Witnesses claimed around 200 Ethiopian soldiers moved into Waajid, 40 miles north of Baidoa, and seized the airstrip.

Fears were raised last week that the Islamists might attack Baidoa when UIC forces moved less than 40 miles away. A UIC spokesman claimed the group was ready to attack the seat of the transitional government, but within hours, the troops had retreated. Unconfirmed reports yesterday suggested that a column of 50 heavily armed military vehicles had left Mogadishu for Baidoa.

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