(SomaliNet) Additional troops from Ethiopia have reached on Sunday in the provincial town of Baidoa in southwest of the Somalia capital to enforce the former soldiers already there to protect the weak Somali interim government from any possible attack from Islamic Courts – this mounts the fear of possible confrontation between government troops and Islamists.
Helicopters were bringing troops in the airstrip of Baidoa town while the surveillance Ethiopian airplanes were flying over Baidoa, which is temporarily capital of transitional federal government, local witnesses told Somalinet.
Local official who declined not to be identified his name said the Ethiopian forces have extended their power in most of Bay and Bakol regions in preparation to wage war against Islamic militiamen.
The Islamic Courts - who deployed their militiamen in Burhakaba town 60km to Baidoa but retreated back to the capital – again declared all-out holy war (Jihad) against Ethiopian troops.
The Ethiopian troops continue to roll into Somalia towns since last week making it real its past pledge over defending the Kenya formed transitional federal government. The TFG sees the powerful Islamic Courts as imminent threat of its legitimacy.
Earlier, the top Islamist leaders in the Somalia capital stated they will pose an Islamic rule in Somalia and that puts a great concern on Somali’s interim government.
The Baidoa based government accuses the Islamic courts of having links with Al-Qaeda Network but the Islamists deny the accusation.
Meanwhile, in Somalia capital former Somali national forces continue on Sunday to register for the second day to join the holy war against Ethiopia by Islamic Courts.
Hundreds of former personals of national military forces have submitted their names to the Islamic leaders in Mogadishu vowing to sacrifice their lives in defending their territory from the enemy (Ethiopia).