Islamists gird for fresh fighting
2006-11-08 15:32
Mogadishu - Islamist gunmen and pro-government militia prepared for fresh fighting in southern Somalia on Wednesday, said officials and witnesses, as thousands fled feared clashes and the effect of floods.
The government-allied Juba Valley Alliance (JVA) said it was set to defend itself from advancing Islamist forces moving toward its stronghold in Gedo region, which suffered huge floods overnight after a river burst its banks.
JVA commander Abdullahi Sheikh Fartag said: "Islamic courts militias are preparing to wage an attack on us here.
"We know everything, they are going to try to take this town and all other districts in Gedo region, but we are ready to repel them and this time defeat will not be simple."
War in Bardheere
Witnesses said heavily-armed Islamist fighters had left Sakkow, 80km to the south, but were being slowed by flooded roads, inundated with waters from Juba River.
Local businessman Ahmed Omar Barako said: "Everybody is talking about war in Bardheere. The Islamist fighters in Sakkow have started advancing and that is why people are worried."
However, islamist officials said they didn't plan to attack JVA positions, mainly due to the catastrophic flooding.
At least eight people, three of them children, drowned early on Wednesday after the river overflowed after torrential rains, sweeping through villages in Gedo's Garbaharey division and sending thousands fleeing their homes.
Islamic commander Sheikh Yaqub Issak said: "There is no reason to engage fighting at a time when people have been killed by heavy rains in the region. But we will not tolerate trouble-makers."