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Somali militia 'still in hiding' Somali militia 'still in hiding'
(about 1 hour later)
Somalia's interim interior minister has claimed there are some 3,500 Islamist fighters still hiding in the capital.Somalia's interim interior minister has claimed there are some 3,500 Islamist fighters still hiding in the capital.
His comments come as three people were seriously injured in a rocket attack on a truck in Mogadishu. Hussein Aideed urged them to join the government army, warning they would not be given a second chance.
Uganda's president is in Ethiopia to discuss forming an African force to stabilise the country. He is expected to also meet US envoy Jendayi Frazer. A three-day disarmament exercise in Mogadishu after the defeat of the Islamic courts has had little success, raising fears of renewed instability.
US naval forces are deployed off the Somali coast to prevent leaders of the defeated Islamic Courts escaping. Meanwhile, talks are continuing across the region to secure an African Union peacekeeping force for Somalia.
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and the US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Jendayi Frazer, have been in Ethiopia meeting Prime Minister Meles Zenawi.
Location of militias and US navy patrols Location of militias and US navy patrols
Ethiopian soldiers are currently hunting for a group of about 600 Islamist fighters near the border between Somalia and Kenya. Ms Frazer is expected for high level discussions with African leaders and other international representatives in Nairobi on Friday.
Kenya significantly tightened its border security to prevent any influx of fleeing fighters, as aid agencies called for help for genuine refugees.
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  • Ethiopian soldiers are hunting for 600 Islamist fighters near the border between Somalia and Kenya.
    • The UIC had brought a degree of stability to large areas of the formerly lawless country.
  • US naval forces are also deployed off the Somali coast to prevent leaders of the Union of Islamic Courts escaping.
    • But Ethiopia accuses the UIC of having links with al-Qaeda and sent heavily armed troops into Somalia to back up forces loyal to the transitional government.
  • The Kenyan government has defended its decision to close its border with Somalia to prevent the entry of Islamic militants after criticism from the United Nations.
    • A two-week advance by Ethiopian troops swept the Islamist militias from areas they had controlled for six months.
  • Three people have been seriously injured in a rocket attack on a truck in Mogadishu.
    • The Islamists say their retreat is tactical and have threatened to launch an insurgency.
    Weapons demandWeapons demand
    "There are 3,500 Islamists hiding in Mogadishu and the surrounding areas and they are likely to destabilise the security of the city," Interior Minister Hussein Aideed told journalists at a news conference on Thursday. Mr Aideed told journalists at a news conference on Thursday that there are about 12,000-15,000 Ethiopian troops in Somalia - much higher than Ethiopian estimates - and he said that the threat of instability meant they would not leave before peacekeepers arrive.
    SOMALIA IN NUMBERS Ethiopia troops: 8,000-15,000Government troops: 10,000Islamists:600 near Kenyan border3,500 around MogadishuRecently displaced: 30,000Refugees in Kenya: 160,000 Estimated numbers
    Sources:     Somali government, UN, correspondents     		"There are 3,500 Islamists hiding in Mogadishu and the surrounding areas and they are likely to destabilise the security of the city," he warned.
    Interim Prime Minister Ali Mohammed Ghedi, who said earlier he believed the bulk of the fighting was over, has given the residents until today to surrender arms. SOMALIA IN NUMBERS Ethiopia troops: 8,000-15,000Government troops: 10,000Islamists: 600 near Kenyan border; 3,500 around MogadishuRecently displaced: 30,000Refugees in Kenya: 160,000 Estimated numbers
    Sources:     Somali government, UN, correspondents
    Interim Prime Minister Ali Mohammed Ghedi, who said earlier he believed the bulk of the fighting was over, had given the residents until today to surrender arms.
    But few residents have responded to the call and the demand for AK-47 rifles, hand grenades and land mines has risen.But few residents have responded to the call and the demand for AK-47 rifles, hand grenades and land mines has risen.
    In a city of two million people, there are an estimated one million weapons.In a city of two million people, there are an estimated one million weapons.
    The BBC's Mohammed Olad Hassan in the capital says the truck came under attack after a dispute over the money to be paid to the militia which was manning a road block. Mr Ghedi is reported to have said forcible disarmament will begin at the weekend.
    Our reporter says, although calm has returned, tension is high and people fear anarchy may return to Mogadishu. The BBC's Mohammed Olad Hassan in the capital says although calm has returned, tension is high and people fear anarchy may return to Mogadishu.
    Power vacuum threatPower vacuum threat
    Ms Frazer, US assistant secretary of state for Africa is in the Ethiopian capital for talks on Somalia. Ethiopia sent heavily armed troops into Somalia to back up forces loyal to the transitional government after accusing the UIC of having links with al-Qaeda.
    They swept the Islamist militias from areas they had controlled for six months, but the Islamists said their retreat was tactical and threatened to launch an insurgency.
    I still hope that key AU members will be glad to associate their name in what I believe is the most important peace undertaking in the recent history of Africa AU's Said Djinnit Fragile peace fuels fears African press fretsI still hope that key AU members will be glad to associate their name in what I believe is the most important peace undertaking in the recent history of Africa AU's Said Djinnit Fragile peace fuels fears African press frets
    The BBC's Amber Henshaw in Addis Ababa says the talks could be just the solution the Ethiopian prime minister is looking for. Ethiopia's prime minister has made it clear he wants to withdraw his troops within the next few weeks.
    Meles Zenawi has made it clear he wants to withdraw his troops within the next few weeks.
    The Ethiopians want international peacekeepers to be deployed to prevent a vacuum which would allow the re-emergence of former warlords who controlled the country since 1991.The Ethiopians want international peacekeepers to be deployed to prevent a vacuum which would allow the re-emergence of former warlords who controlled the country since 1991.
    Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni has offered to commit 1,000 troops to a 8,000-strong regional peace force backed by the African Union. Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni has offered to commit 1,000 troops to a 8,000-strong regional peace force.
    The AU commissioner for peace and security said he hoped other African countries would contribute to a peacekeeping force.The AU commissioner for peace and security said he hoped other African countries would contribute to a peacekeeping force.
    "I still hope that key AU members will be glad to associate their name and the name of their country in what I believe is the most important peace undertaking in the recent history of Africa," Said Djinnit told the BBC's Network Africa programme."I still hope that key AU members will be glad to associate their name and the name of their country in what I believe is the most important peace undertaking in the recent history of Africa," Said Djinnit told the BBC's Network Africa programme.
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