This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/africa/6195863.stm

The article has changed 21 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
EU envoy on Somali peace mission EU envoy on Somali peace mission
(about 1 hour later)
A European Union envoy is flying to Somalia to push for peace talks between Islamist forces which control much of the country and the interim government. A European Union envoy is visiting Somalia to push for peace talks between Islamist forces which control much of the country and the interim government.
The EU's development and humanitarian aid commissioner, Louis Michel, is due to hold talks in Baidoa, the seat of the weak transitional government. EU development chief Louis Michel has held talks in Baidoa, the seat of the weak transitional government.
He will then travel to the capital, Mogadishu, to meet one of the leaders of the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC). As he arrived, there was heavy fighting and at least one death reported near Idale, some 60km south of Baidoa.
Mr Michel will also travel to the capital, Mogadishu, to meet one of the leaders of the Union of Islamic Courts.
If conflict breaks out in Somalia, it is feared it could engulf the region.If conflict breaks out in Somalia, it is feared it could engulf the region.
Both sides have downplayed a Tuesday deadline given by Islamists for a "massive attack".
The UIC backtracked on an ultimatum for Ethiopians troops to leave Somalia or face a holy war. Both sides have downplayed a deadline which has now passed given by Islamists for a "massive attack" on Ethiopian troops in Somalia.
See map of potential flashpoints See map of potential flashpoints
UIC spokesman Abdi-Rahiin Ali Mudey said the Islamists would not attack the Ethiopians or Baidoa, but wanted talks.
The government has also said talks could resume if the Islamists stopped making threats. Last week, interim President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed ruled out any further talks.
'Dialogue''Dialogue'
The BBC's Adam Mynott in Baidoa says the town though remains is in a precarious situation, with guns seen everywhere.
There are soldiers armed with AK-47s, technicals - pick-up trucks mounted with heavy weapons - and Ethiopian troops at Baidoa airport, he says.
The Islamists have been receiving assistance from Eritrea
Mr Michel has held talks with Prime Minister Ali Mohamed Ghedi, and is meeting with MPs before flying to the capital.
On Tuesday, Ethiopian Information Minister Birhan Hailu told the BBC that his country was always ready for dialogue, but said the Islamists were not willing to talk with the transitional government.On Tuesday, Ethiopian Information Minister Birhan Hailu told the BBC that his country was always ready for dialogue, but said the Islamists were not willing to talk with the transitional government.
"We don't have troops in Somalia, but as we have said so many times, we have a limited number of military advisers to support the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia."We don't have troops in Somalia, but as we have said so many times, we have a limited number of military advisers to support the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia.
"The Ethiopian government is always ready to have peace talks with anybody in Somalia, and we wish a peaceful solution to the problem in Somalia.""The Ethiopian government is always ready to have peace talks with anybody in Somalia, and we wish a peaceful solution to the problem in Somalia."
name="map"> The UIC appeared to backtrack on an ultimatum for Ethiopians troops to leave Somalia or face a holy war.
UIC spokesman Abdi-Rahiin Ali Mudey said the Islamists would not attack the Ethiopians or Baidoa, but wanted talks.
War
But other Islamist officials are being reported as saying they are "now in the last stages of preparing for full-scale war" against Ethiopian forces inside Somalia.
The government has also said talks could resume if the Islamists stopped making threats. Last week, interim President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed ruled out any further talks.
Islamic leaders deny accusations of al-Qaeda links.Islamic leaders deny accusations of al-Qaeda links.
Minor clashes have broken out between the two rivals, but neither side has launched a large offensive. Minor clashes have broken out between the two rivals, the most recent in Idale, but neither side has launched a large offensive.
On Saturday Islamist leader Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed said the movement was prepared for "dialogue" with Ethiopia. "Last evening, a reconnaissance team from the government and the Islamic courts clashed. But this morning, ground troops from both sides exchanged mortars from a distance," the government's deputy defence minister, Salad Ali Jelle, told Reuteres news agency on Wednesday.
On Saturday, Islamist leader Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed said the movement was prepared for "dialogue" with Ethiopia.
In Yemen, he announced a deal with the speaker of the Somali parliament to resume talks after they collapsed last month.In Yemen, he announced a deal with the speaker of the Somali parliament to resume talks after they collapsed last month.
Click to returnClick to return