Somalia: War clouds gathering

Increasing numbers of rival outsiders do not bode well.

Talks in Sudan between Somalia's weak interim government and Islamists have been delayed.

An Islamist delegation has flown to Khartoum but they say they will not take part in the talks unless Ethiopian troops leave Somalia.

Ethiopia denies having a fighting force in Somalia, but says it has hundreds of military trainers with the government.

Some fear a regional conflict breaking out in Somalia, amid reports that Eritrea backs the Islamists.

The AP news agency says it has seen a confidential UN report, in which diplomats say 2,000 fully armed troops from Ethiopia's rival, Eritrea, are helping the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC).

Eritrea has previously been accused of arming the Islamists but denies the claims.

The UN report also says there are between 6-8,000 Ethiopian troops, according to AP...

And there is also supposed to be an African peacekeeping force coming (hah! see end of link).

Jumpin' Jack's view of the situation is here.

Mark C.

Posted by markc at October 30, 2006 05:18 PM