Somali Islamists declare 'holy war' on Ethiopia after town falls

09/10/2006 18h56

MOGADISHU (AFP) - Somalia's powerful Islamist movement declared "holy war" against neighboring Ethiopia after a Muslim-held town near the seat of the weak government fell to Ethiopian and Somali troops.

A day after warning of a regional war if Addis Ababa does not withdraw from Somali territory, the Islamists escalated their rhetoric, vowing to repel Ethiopian soldiers in a tacit warning to the transitional government.

"From today, I am declaring jihad against Ethiopia, which has invaded our country and taken parts of our homeland," said Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, chair of the executive committee of the Supreme Islamic Council of Somalia (SICS).

"The jihad is on from now (and) application of that will be directed by the supreme council," he said in Mogadishu, which the Islamists seized in June and have used as a base to expand through most of south and central Somalia.

More from: http://rawstory.com/showarticle.php?src=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.afp.com%2Fenglish%2Fnews%2Fstories%2F061009185615.ostj7a4d.html