Somalia´s Islamist warn Ethiopian troops to get out the country

Source: CCTV.com | 12-13-2006 09:36

Somalia's Islamist Movement has issued a seven-day ultimatum for Ethiopian troops to get out of Somalia or else they will wage war on them.

Diplomats and witnesses say thousands of Ethiopian troops have crossed the border to protect the fragile interim government of President Abdullahi Yusuf. Yusuf's authority is backed by Ethiopia, the West and the United Nations.

At a news conference, Islamic courts Chief of Security and Defense, Sheikh Yusuf Siad, said there were between 30 to 35-thousand Ethiopian troops in Somalia. Of those, between 6 and 8-thousand were in Baidoa. Another 15-hundred more were at the border of Ethiopia and Kenya with 25 trucks seeking to reach Somalia via another route.

"We want to tell the Ethiopian government and international community to withdraw the Ethiopian troops from our country in seven days. And the international community will be witness. We are not attacking Ethiopia. Where the fighting is going on is not their country."said Sheikh Yusuf.

Rhetoric between Ethiopia and the Islamists has heightened dramatically. Addis Ababa says they are spoiling for war. Meanwhile, the Islamists have repeatedly declared jihad against soldiers from Addis Ababa saying they are invading Somali territory.

 

Editor:Du Xiaodan