islamic courts claim victory, page-4

Here's the story from ABC.


Monday, June 5, 2006. 7:32pm (AEST)
Islamists seize Mogadishu from warlords
Somali Islamists have declared victory over a US-backed warlord alliance and are preparing to take over the capital, Mogadishu.

Having captured nearly all of Mogadishu and a key warlord supply line on its northern outskirts at the weekend, the Islamists are formalising their seizure in a surrender and handover meeting with remnants of the alliance.

In a statement read over local radio stations, the chairman of the city's Joint Islamic Courts (JIC), Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, said 15 years of warlord control of Mogadishu was over and urged residents to accept the new leadership.

"The Joint Islamic Courts are not interested in a continuation of hostilities and will fully implement peace and security after the change has been made by the victory of the people with the support of Allah," he said.

"The JIC will take care of the safety of the people and freedom of individuals and will eradicate any sort of hostilities brought about by inter-clan fighting."

At least 347 people have been killed and more 1,500 wounded, many of the civilians, in fierce battles between the Islamists and the Alliance for the Restoration of Peace and Counter-Terrorism (ARPCT) since February.

The alliance was created that month with US support in a bid to curb the growing influence of Mogadishu's 11 Islamic courts and hunt down extremists, including Al Qaeda members they are accused of harbouring.

The courts, which have repeatedly denied the charges, had declared a holy war against the ARCPT and denounced its funding by the United States, which clerics assailed as an "enemy of Islam."

The US neither publicly confirmed nor denied Washington's support for the alliance but US officials say they have given the warlords money and intelligence help to rein in "creeping Talibanization" in Somalia.

- AFP