Ethiopian troops reinforce Somalia's transitional govt

Hundreds of Ethiopian troops reinforced Somalia’s transitional government today, hours after Ethiopia’s prime minister said his country was ready for war with an Islamic movement that has become the most powerful force in Somalia.

Residents of Baidoa, the government’s headquarters, said 138 trucks carrying Ethiopian troops arrived this morning.

Ethiopia has acknowledged sending military advisers to Somalia, but has repeatedly denied sending a fighting force.

The executive leader of the Council of Islamic Courts, Sheikh Sharif Sheik Ahmed, repeated his call for a holy war against Ethiopian troops inside Somalia and called the internationally-backed government illegitimate because of its alliance with Ethiopia.

“A government is established so as to defend its people and religion, but a government harbouring the country’s enemy can not be a government,” he said last night.

“I appeal to those who still have moral authority to join the jihad against the enemy of Somalia.”

Earlier, Ethiopian prime minister Meles Zenawi said his country had completed its preparations for a potential attack by the Islamic courts.