Mogadishu takeover faces opposition from residents

MOGADISHU -- Islamic militia vowed to turn Somalia into a religious state yesterday , pushing north to take more territory after winning a three-month battle for Mogadishu.

But thousands of Mogadishu residents protested against the takeover, and the defeated warlords said they would fight back. Clan elders warned the Islamic side against more advances.

Fighters loyal to Sharia courts seized the lawless capital Monday from a self-styled antiterrorism coalition of warlords widely believed to be backed by Washington.

President Bush said he was monitoring the situation.

``Obviously when there's instability anywhere in the world we're concerned. There is instability in Somalia," Bush said during a trip to Texas.

``First concern of course would be to make sure that Somalia does not become an Al Qaeda safe haven, doesn't become a place from which terrorists plot and plan. So we're watching very carefully developments there."

Some 350 people, mostly civilians, have died since February in fighting for Mogadishu interspersed by tense lulls. The United Nations says about 1,500 civilians were wounded in the close-quarter battles using mortars and anti-aircraft guns.

It was the first time the warlords had been dislodged from Mogadishu since ousting ruler Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991 .

``Until we get the Islamic state, we will continue with the Islamic struggle in Somalia," Sheikh Sharif Ahmed , chairman of Mogadishu Islamic courts, told a rally of hundreds.

``This is a long Islamic struggle and it will continue until the whole country comes under Sharia law," Fuad Ahmed, a militiaman loyal to the Islamic side, told Reuters. ``We are ready to shed our blood in order for that struggle to succeed."

Supporters of the warlord coalition packed the shattered Benadir stadium in northern Mogadishu at a counter-rally.

``We have to continue fighting the terrorists in Mogadishu. We will remain in Mogadishu," warlord Bashir Raghe, who lost control of an airstrip and a port in March, told Reuters.

``The Islamic courts cannot dislodge us from here."

Warlord Muse Sudi Yalahow, who lost the strategic town of Balad Sunday, also was at the rally.

Somalia's interim prime minister, Mohamed Ali Gedi , earlier congratulated the Islamic side on their victory over warlords who many Somalis believe tried to undermine the government.

``They were hurting reconciliation, stabilization, and pacification of Somalia," Gedi told Radio France Internationale.

``All those forces who joined their efforts together were the pillars of the victory and the government has congratulated them," he said.

The Islamic fighters advanced yesterday toward the warlord stronghold of Jowhar, about 55 miles north of Mogadishu.

``Our forces are in the village of Qalimoy, 20 kilometers south of Jowhar. We are just waiting for orders from our leaders to capture it," militia leader Siyad Mohamed , who is allied to the Islamic courts, told Reuters from Balad.

Ali Nur, a warlord coalition militiaman, said clan elders threatened to mass their militia against Islamic forces if they attacked Jowhar.

Nur said the Islamic side told the warlords to hand over weapons but their fighters were preparing an assault to regain lost Mogadishu strongholds.

But resident Fahran Gure said he did not expect violence.

``We feel there is a big change, peace is in the air, no gunshots can be heard," he said. ``It is calm, businesses are fully operational. People are now moving freely everywhere."

Aid workers fear the violence may have exacerbated an existing humanitarian crisis in drought-hit Somalia. Some 400,000 displaced people already live in squalid conditions across Somalia, but scores had fled Mogadishu during fighting.