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Somali car ban 'to stop bombers' Somali car ban 'to stop bombers'
(40 minutes later)
Somalia's weak Baidoa-based transitional government is to ban cars travelling from Islamist-held Mogadishu after two recent car bombings.Somalia's weak Baidoa-based transitional government is to ban cars travelling from Islamist-held Mogadishu after two recent car bombings.
Government officials say the ban will come into effect on Tuesday.Government officials say the ban will come into effect on Tuesday.
"I think taking such a decision is the only solution to boost our security," Baidoa official Ahmed Maddey Issak told the AFP news agency."I think taking such a decision is the only solution to boost our security," Baidoa official Ahmed Maddey Issak told the AFP news agency.
The 250km Mogadishu-Baidoa road is peppered with checkpoints amid fears of a war involving neighbouring Ethiopia.The 250km Mogadishu-Baidoa road is peppered with checkpoints amid fears of a war involving neighbouring Ethiopia.
The BBC's Mohammed Olad Hassan in Mogadishu says the move is unlikely to affect trade as other vehicles will still be able to travel between the two cities.The BBC's Mohammed Olad Hassan in Mogadishu says the move is unlikely to affect trade as other vehicles will still be able to travel between the two cities.
The government blame Islamists, who it accuses of links to al-Qaeda, for last week's bombing in which some nine people died and a September assassination attempt on President Abdullahi Yusuf.The government blame Islamists, who it accuses of links to al-Qaeda, for last week's bombing in which some nine people died and a September assassination attempt on President Abdullahi Yusuf.
TIMELINE 30 Nov 2006: Ethiopia's parliament authorises all legal and necessary steps against any invasion by the UIC27 Nov 2006: UIC accuse Ethiopian forces of shelling BandiradleyOct 2006: Ethiopian's PM says Ethiopia is "technically at war" with the UICSept 2006: Somalia's president survives an assassination attemptJuly 2006: Ethiopian troops cross into SomaliaJune 2006: UIC takes control of Mogadishu 1996: Ethiopian forces defeat Islamist fighters in Somali town of Luuq1964 and 1977: Wars fought over Ethiopia's Ogaden region Timeline: Ethiopia vs SomaliaTIMELINE 30 Nov 2006: Ethiopia's parliament authorises all legal and necessary steps against any invasion by the UIC27 Nov 2006: UIC accuse Ethiopian forces of shelling BandiradleyOct 2006: Ethiopian's PM says Ethiopia is "technically at war" with the UICSept 2006: Somalia's president survives an assassination attemptJuly 2006: Ethiopian troops cross into SomaliaJune 2006: UIC takes control of Mogadishu 1996: Ethiopian forces defeat Islamist fighters in Somali town of Luuq1964 and 1977: Wars fought over Ethiopia's Ogaden region Timeline: Ethiopia vs Somalia
The government says the cars were driven by suicide bombers but this has not been independently verified.The government says the cars were driven by suicide bombers but this has not been independently verified.
The Islamists deny any links to the bombings, or to al-Qaeda.The Islamists deny any links to the bombings, or to al-Qaeda.
In Mogadishu, Islamist leader Sheik Hassan Dahir Aweys warned the UN Security Council not to approve plans to send foreign peacekeepers to Somalia or risk starting a major conflict.
He was speaking to thousands of people, some of whom were carrying anti-Western placards.
A regional grouping of African states, Igad, has now backed the proposal in principle, with the African Union also offering support.
When he was elected two years ago, President Yusuf asked for foreign troops to bolster his position.
The UIC strongly opposes any foreign presence on Somali soil, as do several members of Igad, including Sudan.
Direct talks between Ethiopia and senior representatives of the Union of Islamic Courts, who control most of southern Somalia, were held in Djibouti on Sunday in an attempt to avert all-out war.Direct talks between Ethiopia and senior representatives of the Union of Islamic Courts, who control most of southern Somalia, were held in Djibouti on Sunday in an attempt to avert all-out war.
Islamists have pledged to force Ethiopian troops out of Somalia.Islamists have pledged to force Ethiopian troops out of Somalia.
The Ethiopians admit only to having military trainers in the country in support of the interim government.The Ethiopians admit only to having military trainers in the country in support of the interim government.
The government, formed two years ago, is close to securing regional and international approval for the deployment of foreign peacekeeping troops in Somalia.
When he came to power, President Yusuf asked for foreign troops to bolster his position.
A regional grouping of African states, Igad, has now backed that proposal in principle, with the African Union also offering support. The idea is now being considered by the UN Security Council.
The UIC strongly opposes any foreign presence on Somali soil, as do several members of Igad, including Sudan.