Eritrea accused of training jihadists

Published Jul 20, 2006

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By Guled Mohamed

Mogadishu - Somali Prime Minister Ali Mohamed Gedi accused Eritrea of arming and training fighters to wreak chaos in Somalia where a burgeoning Islamist movement is threatening the interim government's power.

"We know that in the past several years foreign fighters in favour of jihad have strongly intervened in our country, having been trained in Eritrea where troops and guns are still being supplied through Somali airports," Gedi told Reuters.

"This is intended to wreak carnage on the Somali people," he said in a telephone interview late on Wednesday from the government's base in the provincial town of Baidoa.

A May UN report on violations of an arms embargo on Somalia said Eritrea has shipped weapons to Islamists, while Ethiopia backed warlords they defeated in June.

Asmara denies that and Addis Ababa has not responded.

Independent analysts agree with the UN that both have been funnelling weapons to the Horn of Africa nation, plagued by war and without central rule since a dictator fell in 1991.

Emboldened by their victory in Mogadishu against US-backed warlords last month, the Islamists have sought to rapidly extend their influence in other parts of Somalia, setting up sharia courts and announcing a parallel national administration.

The moves have alarmed Western diplomats who fear that the Islamists, led by a hardline cleric who appears on international terrorism lists, plan to impose Taliban-style rule.

Gedi said the government, which enjoys international recognition but little control beyond Baidoa, would not allow "terrorists" in the country.

"What needs to be fought against is the foreign fighters who are coming into our country," he said. "The public should not be confused with talk about waging a jihad on infidels."

Gedi spoke to Reuters after Islamist militia advanced within 35km of Baidoa, in what he called an act of aggression, before turning back.

"We see it as aggression towards government-controlled areas and the people who support us," he said.

Gedi said the Islamists had breached an agreement to stop military campaigns signed with the government last month.

"We call upon the Islamic courts to stop fighting. We hope they will end those acts and take part in peace efforts in our country."

Talks between both sides were expected to resume in Khartoum on July 22. The government boycotted negotiations last weekend in protest at alleged ceasefire violations by the Islamists.

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