Somalia bans cars from town
05/12/2006 22:02  - (SA)  

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Mogadishu - Somalia's weak interim government has banned cars from entering the town where it is based to try to stop more car bomb attacks there.

A suicide bombing near Baidoa, about 250km from Mogadishu, killed nine people last week in an attack which came less than three months after suicide bombers narrowly missed killing President Abdullahi Yusuf.

Somali deputy defence minister Salad Ali Jelle initially blamed rival Islamists for Friday's blast, but another minister said it was too early to point the finger at anyone.

The Somalia Islamic Courts Council (ICC), the nation's most-powerful military force which has challenged the Western-backed interim administration's authority and effectively flanked it on three sides, has denied any involvement.

"We have banned travellers using cars to Baidoa in order to prevent further suicide attacks," said district commissioner Ahmed Maddey Issak on Tuesday.

"Travellers have been using 40 to 50 small sedans a day which is overwhelming our security officials," he said, adding that small cars on official business would have to obtain advance clearance.

Travellers would now have to use minivans and buses to go to Baidoa and they would be subjected to searches at checkpoints.

Ethiopia denies involvement

The Islamists have suggested that arch-foe Ethiopia, which is backing the government, had a hand in the suicide attack to create a reason to attack them. Ethiopia denies any involvement.

Diplomats fear the stand-off between the Islamists, who control Mogadishu and much of the south, and the government will spiral into all-out conflict, sucking in neighbouring countries and attracting foreign Islamic militants.

Talks between the two sides stalled last month and some fear the latest violence will derail further negotiations.

In Baidoa, the ban was met with anger by car owners who rent out their vehicles.

"It is not fair to let buses and minibuses work while banning us," said Hassan Abdullahi Ali, a driver who works between Mogadishu and Baidoa.

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