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  Islamists will 'defend' Somalia
Islamic Courts fighters in Mogadishu - file photo
Islamic Courts fighters took control of the capital Mogadishu in June
The Islamist militia that has seized much of Somalia has said it will defend the country from Ethiopian forces it says are in the country.

An official from the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) told the BBC they "have no other option but to defend ourselves".

Ethiopia supports the Somali transition government but has denied reports that its troops are in Somalia.

Somalia's interim prime minister has called for help against "al-Qaeda" and "terrorists" expansion in the country.

The foreign spokesman for the UIC, Ibrahim Hassan Addow, told the BBC Ethiopian soldiers were "deep inside" Somalia, violating the "territorial integrity" of the country.

Eyewitnesses have reported that hundreds of Ethiopian troops have crossed the border, heading for Baidoa - the only town controlled by the internationally recognised government.

map of Somalia

UIC fighters captured the strategic southern port of Kismayo on Sunday, where they fired at demonstrators, reportedly killing three people.

Speaking after the takeover of Kismayo, Somalia's interim Prime Minister Ali Mohamed Ghedi appealed for aid soon for his beleaguered government.

"I would appeal to the governments of the region to join our efforts and protect the region from the expansion of this al-Qaeda network, these terrorists."

Running away

Mr Ghedi also said the takeover of Kismayo had been a "violation" of a ceasefire agreed between the UIC and the interim government.

The UIC deny having any links to al-Qaeda and say they are bringing security to a lawless country.

Somalia's interim Prime Minister Ali Mohamed Ghedi
Interim Prime Minister Ghedi's government was set up in 2004

However this was denied by Mr Addow, who told the BBC that Kismayo residents had "driven the administration over there out of the city" and that IUC "went there to give them support".

The militia seized Kismayo on Sunday without a fight, after gunmen loyal to Mr Ghedi's Defence Minister Barre Hiraale fled the town.

Earlier this month, the African Union agreed to a request by Somalia's transitional government to send in a regional peacekeeping force.

Kismayo had been seen as a possible landing point for the peacekeepers.

Thousands of people are reported to have fled the city in recent days.

The UIC has steadily increased its hold on Somalia since its fighters took control of the capital, Mogadishu, in June.

Mr Ghedi's government was set up in 2004 after more than two years of talks designed to give Somalia its first effective national government since 1991.

Source: BBC News

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