Somali warlord takes over town

2005-03-27 15:01

Mogadishu - A militia led by a Somali warlord and lawmaker opposed to plans by the new government to establish itself in the town of Baidoa, took control of the southwestern trading centre on Sunday, throwing the peace process into question.

Heavy fighting between militias led by two lawmakers in Somalia's new parliament broke out on Saturday. The fighting in Baidoa was between a clan faction allied to neighbouring Ethiopia, commanded by Hassan Mohamed Nur Shargudud, and a group led by Mohamed Ibrahim Habsadeh.

After heavy fighting at dawn, Habsadeh's forces were in control of Baidoa, 300km northwest of Mogadishu, by midday. Shargudud's forces withdrew to a village about 10km outside of Baidoa.

"The town is now peaceful, calm and the business activities are back to normal," Habsadeh said by telephone from Baidoa.

Casualty figures were not immediately available, though five people were reported killed on Saturday.

The two men have disagreed about where the new government, currently in exile in Kenya, should be established and the role of Ethiopian troops as peacekeepers to protect the interim government.

Ethiopian-backed Somali warlords - now lawmakers - and the Ethiopian-backed President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed have suggested setting up the new government in Baidoa and in Jowhar, 80km north of Mogadishu because the capital is too dangerous. Yusuf has also called for Ethiopian and other regional peacekeepers to protect the new government.

Heavy fighting

Habsadeh and other Somali leaders who consider Ethiopia an enemy have rejected both proposals, causing a split among the warlords who took part in the peace process to form the new government. Mediators have said that reconciliation efforts have stalled, placing the peace process in danger.

Islamic fundamentalists, who make up a small percentage of Somali society, have also opposed the new government.

Shargudud's militia attempted to organize a public demonstration of support for Yusuf and his proposals in Baidoa when Habsadeh's men prevented it. The confrontation deteriorated into heavy fighting with rocket-propelled grenades, anti-aircraft guns and small arms on Saturday.

Habsadeh reportedly received reinforcement Sunday morning from allied clansmen and warlords, who have reportedly taken control of other towns in the area, forcing Shargudud's men to withdraw.

Shargudud, who is with the government in Kenya, was not immediately available for comment and attempts to reach his militia were unsuccessful.

- AP