Somalian Clash: Ethiopian Greater Firepower Forces Retreat

MOGADISHU, Somalia (CNN/AP) Dec. 27 — Ethiopian and Somali government troops entered the strategic city of Jowhar, the last major town on the northern road to the capital, routing Islamic militiamen and forcing them to retreat, residents said.

A former warlord, who ruled Jowhar before it was captured by the Council of Islamic Courts in June, led the Somali government troops as they drove into the city, a resident said. “Ethiopian troops and Mohammed Dhere have entered the city,” said Abshir Ali Gabre.

The transitional government, backed by Ethiopia and the U.N., says it is forcing the Islamic militia to retreat

Ethiopia sent fighter jets across the border Sunday to help Somalia’s U.N.-recognized government push back the Islamists. Ethiopia bombed the country’s two main airports and helped government forces capture several villages.

Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed, a senior leader of the Islamic group, said he asked his troops to tactically retreat in the face of superior Ethiopian firepower.

Ethiopian PM Meles Zenawi has privately threatened for months to send troops into Somalia to fight terrorists, defend Ethiopian interests and prop up the besieged government, which has a very small military force.

He has also said he aims to severely damage the courts’ military capabilities and allow both sides to return to peace talks on an even footing, but would not send troops into Mogadishu. Instead, he said, Somali forces would encircle the city to contain the Islamists.

If he sticks to his plan, the transitional government and the Islamic courts would take peace talks more seriously because neither side would have the upper hand militarily.

ADDIS ABABA, Kenya (IHT) Nov. 1, 2006 – Ethiopia’s prime minister says Islamic militants in Somalia represent a threat to the Horn of Africa and the entire international community and that more must be done to contain them.

Prime Minister Meles Zenawi told The Associated Press that he held out little hope a peace agreement could be reached between Somalia’s internationally recognized government and Islamic militants who have taken over much of the country. Ethiopia, a largely Christian nation, supports neighboring Somalia’s secular government.

“Apparently some people believe that the al-Qaida elements in Mogadishu … are people one can talk to in a reasonable manner, that they can be convinced not to be extremists,” Meles said in an exclusive interview.

Meles has confirmed that he has sent military advisers to help Somalia’s weak government, prompting Islamic leaders to declare a holy war against Ethiopia.