Islamic forces abandon Somalia's capital

Somalia's Islamic movement abandoned the nation's capital today and clan militia men poured into the streets, looting the bases of the departing fighters.

Government forces approached to within 18 miles of Mogadishu, vowing to take the capital. Clan leaders, though, have the greatest influence over whether order or chaos follows the retreat of the Islamic movement known as the Council of Islamic Courts. A courts leader, meanwhile, said the battle for Somalia was not over.

President Abdullahi Yusuf said in a statement this afternoon that his troops on the outskirts of the capital were not a threat to the people of Mogadishu.

"The government is committed to solving every problem that may face Somalia through dialogue and peaceful ways," the statement said. "I would want to reassure the Somali people that we are tirelessly working toward the salvation of our nation and the restoration of your dignity and honour."

Abdirahman Janaqow, a top leader in the Islamic movement, told The Associated Press he had ordered his forces out of Mogadishu to avoid bloodshed in the capital.

"We want to face our enemy and their stooges ... away from civilians," Abdirahman Janaqow said in a telephone interview.

Janaqow's movement had appeared unstoppable since taking Mogadishu six months ago. Then Ethiopian troops went on the attack in support of the government last week.

Yusuf Ibrahim, a former Islamic movement fighter who quit today, said only the most hardcore fighters were still opposing the government and its Ethiopian backers. He numbered them at about 3,000, and said they were headed to the port city of Kismayo, south of Mogadishu.

More than 20 fighting vehicles loaded with Islamic militiamen arrived in Kismayo early today. Clan leaders there called for Ahmed Madobe, the governor of Kismayo, to surrender to government forces, but he refused, said relatives interviewed by The Associated Press. The relatives asked not to be named for security reasons.

Other witnesses reported seeing a large number of foreign fighters in the convoys heading south. Islamic movement leaders had called on foreign Muslims to join their "holy war" against the country that has backed the government, Ethiopia, which has a large Christian population. Hundreds were believed to have answered the call.

Ethiopia has said it would not enter Mogadishu. Before the Islamists established control, Mogadishu had been ruled by competing clans who came together to support the Islamic courts. Now, the clans could return to fighting one another and may reject the government's authority.

Today in Mogadishu, gunfire echoed through the streets and hundreds of gunmen, who just hours earlier fought for Quranic rule, took off the uniforms of the Islamic movement and submitted to the command of clan elders, an AP reporter in Mogadishu said.

Some clan militiamen began looting the bases of the Islamic movement and buildings belonging to its officials, witnesses said.

"I have seen that the Islamists are defeated. I'm going to rejoin my clan," said gunman Mohamed Barre Sidow. "I was forced to join the Islamic courts by my clan, so I now I will return to my clan and they will decide my fate, whether I join the government or not."

Most of the shooting and looting was coming from northern neighbourhoods, which are Abgal clan strongholds. The competition for control of Mogadishu since 1991 has involved the Abgal and Habr Gadir clans.

"Four people - three men and a woman - died after thugs exchanged gunfire to loot the Islamic courts station near Ramadan Hotel," Abdullahi Adow, a resident, said. "The ammunition and foodstuff stores were emptied."

Salad Gabayre, a clan militia commander in the Sinai district, said elders were calling for their young men to form into militias to protect their neighbourhoods.

A well-known clan leader, Hussein Haji Bod, asked people to remain calm and strengthen security. He added leaders would meet today to discuss the future of the capital.