Somali Islamists overrun town
2006-06-15 22:41
Beledweyne - Islamic militias now controlling swathes of southern Somalia on Thursday rode into Hiraan region, overunning several trading posts with ease as they headed north to a key town near the Ethiopian border, officials said.
A militia commander Sheikh Ali told AFP that the militias loyals to Islamic courts had taken control of Gialalassi town, about 150km north of Mogadishu, after clashes between two ethnic sub-clans claimed two lives.
"We have taken control of Gialalassi town," Ali told AFP.
Ali said his gunmen had met little resistance from the local clans, who had pledged loyalty to the faltering US-backed warlords alliance but later negotiated a settlement with the Islamist powers.
The militiamen, who have been keen on expanding their control of the area and were heading to Beledweyne, 300km north of Mogadishu, arrived at Gialalassi overnight and camped at a nearby bridge before entering the township early Thursday.
Local leaders in Beledweyne, meanwhile, told AFP they had begun setting up Islamic tribunals ahead of their arrival, in order to welcome the fighters, an AFP correspondent reported.
The Joint Islamic Courts militias have routed their rivals from the warlords alliance in recent weeks, following four months of clashes that have killed at least 360 people - including many civilians - and wounded 2 000 more.
Mogadishu fell to the Islamists last week.
Jowhar, a former warlord stronghold Jowhar, was seized on Wednesday in clashes in which killed 12 people.
The Islamic alliance, meanwhile, is seeking the support of influential clan elders in the lawless state for the imposition of Sharia Islamic law.