Somali government troops backed by Ethiopian soldiers have entered Kismayo, the last major stronghold of a militant Islamic movement, residents said today.

Fighting erupted today on the outskirts of Somalia's militant Islamic movement's last remaining stronghold as thousands fled advancing Ethiopian troops supported by tanks and MiG fighter jets.

Somalia's prime minister said today the suspects in the 1998 bombings of two US embassies in east Africa are sheltering in the stronghold of his country's militant Islamic movement.

Somalia’s prime minister entered the capital yesterday, — one day after the Islamic Courts Movement’s fighters retreated ahead of his Ethiopian-backed troops — and was welcomed by thousands of the battle-scarred city’s cheering residents.

The prime minister promised thousands of cheering Somalis peace and stability after he drove through battle-scarred Mogadishu in an armed convoy, a day after an Islamic movement’s fighters abandoned the capital ahead of his Ethiopian-backed troops.

Somali government troops rolled into Mogadishu unopposed today, the prime minister said, hours after an Islamic movement that tried to establish a government based on the Koran abandoned the capital and promised to make a stand in southern Somalia.

Thousands of Islamic militants today surrounded the only town Somalia’s government controls, the prime minister said.

Fears of regional conflict has soared with the loss of a strategic port to Somalia’s radical Islamic militia, which faced angry demonstrations that erupted into deadly violence, and for the first time acknowledged getting help from foreign Muslims.

The European Union yesterday committed €70m in aid to Somalia to help rebuild the drought-stricken and civil war-plagued nation.

Somalia’s prime minister today called on neighbouring countries to send warships to patrol his nation’s waters after a third cargo vessel delivering food aid was seized by pirates.

A BLAST yesterday killed at least seven people and injured an unknown number at a government rally in Mogadishu’s soccer stadium, exploding 10 yards from the new Somali prime minister who had just begun a speech.

Somalia's prime minister escaped unharmed in a blast that killed 10 and injured 60 as supporters turned out for a rally in Mogadishu's soccer stadium today.

A blast killed at least seven people and injured an unknown number at a government rally in Mogadishu’s soccer stadium today, exploding 10 yards from the new Somali prime minister who had just begun a speech, officials said.