“Encircle Mogadishu,” Meles says

December 26, 2006

Islamist fighters at Mogadishu Airport on Monday (Reuters/Shabelle Media)

“As soon as we have accomplished our mission — and about half of our mission is done, and the rest shouldn’t take long — we’ll be out,” Meles told reporters in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa.

Skirmishes were continuing Tuesday.

A witness in the town of Bur Haqaba reported hearing explosions nearby after two Ethiopian jets flew overhead.

“I saw two helicopters, I heard the sounds of bombs at Lego village,” Mohamed Abdulle Siidi said by telephone. The account could not be confirmed.

Islamic militiamen withdrew more than 50 miles to the southeast from Daynuney, a town just south of Baidoa. The retreat along the western front followed the bombing by Ethiopian jets of the country’s two main international airports.

Advancing government and Ethiopian troops captured Bur Haqaba, one of the Islamists’ main bases after it was abandoned early Tuesday.

“We woke up from our sleep this morning and the town was empty of troops, not a single Islamic fighter,” Ibrahim Mohamed Aden, a resident of Bur Haqaba said.

Islamic fighters were also reportedly retreating on two other fronts.

On the southern front, government troops captured Dinsor, the government spokesman, Dinari, said. On the northern front, government and Ethiopian troops entered Bulo Barde, where just two weeks ago an Islamic cleric said anyone who did not pray five times a day would be executed.

Government and Ethiopian troops also were headed for Jowhar, 55 miles north of Mogadishu, after driving Islamic troops from Bandiradley, Adadow and Galinsor.

Meles has said he does not intend to keep his forces in Somalia long, perhaps only a few weeks. He has told visiting dignitaries that his goal is to severely damage the Islamic movement’s military capabilities and allow both sides to return to peace talks on even footing.