Somalia's Islamic courts claimed Tuesday they had captured an
Ethiopian officer after heavy fighting against pro-government
militia in which more than 50 were killed, according to reports
reaching Nairobi Tuesday.
The Supreme Council of Islamic Courts (SCIC) fighters said they
captured the officer on Sunday in clashes that killed at least 51
people, 48 from the Juba Valley Alliance (JVA) militia and three
Islamists.
SCIC Spokesman Sheikh Shukri Abraham told a news conference in
Kismayo town, the capital of lower Jubba region, the wounded
Ethiopian officer was seized after 26 hours of fighting between
Islamic fighters and militia loyal to Somalia's defense
minister.
The claim came a day after the Islamists' supreme leader called
for the start of a "jihad," or holy war, against Ethiopia, which is
alleged to have sent troops to support the Somali government.
"We have arrested an Ethiopian officer," Shukri said but did not
identify the captured Ethiopian soldier.
Ethiopian officials were not immediately available for
comment.
Ethiopia has denied sending fighters to Somalia but Prime
Minister Meles Zenawi has admitted sending military trainers to
Somalia's transitional government.
The deteriorating situation in the country threatens to hamper a
planned third round of Arab League-mediated peace talks between the
government and the Islamists set to begin on Nov. 2 in Khartoum,
the capital of Sudan.
Both sides had threatened to boycott the meeting, but last week
the Islamists said they were ready to attend without
conditions.
Both sides have accused the other of violating terms of a
partial peace deal. A power-sharing agreement is seen as the only
way to restore strong central rule to Somalia.
Somalia has been without a functioning central administration
since 1991 and the government, formed in neighboring Kenya in 2004,
has been wracked by infighting and unable to assert control over
much of the country.
(Xinhua News Agency October 25, 2006)
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