Ethiopian jets spark worries

2006-12-29 13:56

Mogadishu - Two Ethiopian jet fighters overflew the Somali southern town of Kismayo, the last stronghold of the Islamists who abandoned the capital Mogadishu, raising fears on Friday of renewed bombings.

An Islamist commander and residents saw the overflights as Islamist leader Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys arrived in the town, about 500km south of the capital, which they abandoned on Thursday.

"I saw two Ethiopian military planes flying over us when we passed Kamsuuma area, but they did not drop any bomb, maybe they didn't spot us," said an Islamist commander.

An aid worker said: "Two Ethiopian MiG jets overflew Kismayo. We think they were on a reconnaissance."

Aid workers have spoken of renewed fighting in southern Somalia as the government is expected to try to capture Kismayo, which is an Indian Ocean port, from the Islamists.

Hardline cleric arrives

Early this week, Ethiopian warplanes bombed Islamist positions in and around Beledweyne near the border with Ethiopia, as well as Mogadishu international airport and a military airfield in Belidogle town.

Islamist commanders said Aweys, a hardline cleric held by Washington and Addis Ababa to be linked to al-Qaeda, had arrived in Kismayo.

However, the government said top Islamist leaders were planning to travel to Eritrea, Ethiopia's arch-foe, accused of backing the Islamists.

"We have reached Kismayo and Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys is also with us," said one commander on condition of anonymity.

"I don't want to say more about our wargames but I tell you that Islamic fighters will start the real war soon, it is guerrilla war," he added.

- AFP