Somalia plans jihad camps
2006-09-19 18:49
Mogadishu - Islamic militants who control of much of southern Somalia said on Tuesday they would open training camps for Somali students to prepare them for a holy war against any foreign peacekeepers sent to their country.
Islamic official Fuad Mohammed Kalaf said: "There is nothing wrong with our plan to train students.
"There are a lot of countries in the world that carry out such exercises."
The militants oppose foreign interference in Somalia, while the country's virtually powerless official government has appealed for outside help to pacify this chaotic Horn of Africa nation.
Last month, authorities from seven African countries endorsed a plan to send about 3 500 Ugandan and Sudanese soldiers to Somalia by early October.
However, the agreement by the intergovernmental authority on development (Igad) is unlikely to become reality anytime soon.
"Our policy is to fight against countries in Igad who are our foes," said Kalaf.
- SAPA