A Somalian stands next to an armoured vehicle, which the Islamists Courts Council surrendered, in Mogadishu December 28, 2006.    (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery >>>

    Latest report:

    Spokesman: Somali PM, gov't to relocate in Mogadishu

    NAIROBI, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- Somali Prime Minister Ali Mohammed Gedi and the entire cabinet will move base to the capital Mogadishu after the withdrawal of the Union of Islamic Courts which had ruled the city since June, a government spokesman said on Thursday.

    "It is not only the prime minister but the entire government, the entire cabinet, members of parliament and assistant ministers. They will go to Mogadishu to organize the population to welcome the Somali forces," Abdirahman Dinari, government spokesman told Xinhua by telephone from Somalia.

    "The cabinet and the members of parliament are now in Mogadishu," said Awad Ashareh, a Somali lawmaker and the Chairman of the Parliamentary Information Committee.

    "The committee is working on establishing administrative structures for Mogadishu, they have identified local officials and would appoint a governor for Mogadishu," said Ashareh.

    Analysts predicted a power vacuum in Mogadishu on Thursday after the Islamic courts abandoned the capital to flee from advancing Somalia government troops.

    "The government troops are poised to take over Mogadishu. I can hear sporadic shooting from where I am standing but I do not know from where," a foreign correspondent in Mogadishu told Xinhua on phone.

    But the Somali government said calm had returned to Mogadishu and the government had engaged the Somali people in preparations for the grand entry of the Somali troops.

    "There is no power vacuum, our forces are already in Mogadishu. The situation is normal. There is no more looting. This morning, the militias were engaged in looting but we have restored calm there," Dinari said.

    He said the government was working jointly with the civil society to restore calm in the entire country. The committee was also working on the appointments of civil servants for Mogadishu.

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    Somalia's warring factions urged to resume dialogue unconditionally

    ADDIS ABABA, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- The African Union (AU), Arab League (AL) and east Africa's regional body IGAD on Thursday urged Somalia's warring factions to resume their political dialogue in Khartoum by Jan. 15 unconditionally.

    "The framework for the political dialogue shall continue to be the Transitional Federal Charter, which entails security arrangements and power sharing," the three sides said in a joint statement. Full story>>> 

    Ethiopian PM denies U.S. involvement in Ethiopia's counterattacks in Somalia

    ADDIS ABABA, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi on Thursday denied U.S. involvement in the country's counterattacks on Somalia's Union of Islamic Courts (UIC).

    "The U.S. hasn't contributed a single bullet, a single soldier or a single military equipment to this operation," Meles told a press conference in Addis Ababa. Full story>>>

    U.S. calls for negotiation between warring factions in Somalia

    WASHINGTON, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- The United States on Thursday called for negotiations between warring factions in Somalia after the forces of Somalia's Transitional Federal Government (TFG), supported by Ethiopian troops, entered Mogadishu, the capital of the war-torn East African country.

    "We don't believe that the ultimate solution to the situation in Somalia and the ultimate way of achieving everyone's goal in Somalia, which is to have a functioning stable government for the Somali people, can be achieved in the long run through violence," State Department deputy spokesman Tom Casey said. Full story>>>

   Witnesses: Somali Islamists withdraw from Mogadishu without fight

    NAIROBI, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- Somali Islamic courts pulled out of the capital of Mogadishu on Thursday as forces of Ethiopia and Somali Transitional Federal Government (TFG) prepared to launch attacks there, witnesses said.

    Forces of the TFG and Ethiopia troops were reportedly moving forward from Dinsor towards Buale, and from Burhakaba towards Lower Shabelle. Full story>>>

    U.S. signals support for Ethiopian offensive in Somalia

    WASHINGTON, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- The United States reiterated on Wednesday its stand that signaled support for Ethiopia's military offensive in Somalia, saying "Ethiopia has genuine security concerns with regard to developments within Somalia." Full story>>>

    ICRC: Fighting in Somalia causes heavy casualties

    GENEVA, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- The worst fighting in a decade in central and southern Somalia has caused hundreds of casualties andis forcing thousands to flee their homes, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said on Wednesday.Full story>>>

    EU calls for negotiation to resolve Somalia conflicts

    GENEVA, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- The worst fighting in a decade in central and southern Somalia has caused hundreds of casualties andis forcing thousands to flee their homes, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said on Wednesday.Full story>>>

    AU urges Ethiopian troops to withdraw from Somalia immediately

    GENEVA, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- The worst fighting in a decade in central and southern Somalia has caused hundreds of casualties andis forcing thousands to flee their homes, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said on Wednesday.Full story>>>

    Norway demands Ethiopia withdraw troops from Somalia

    STOCKHOLM, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- The Norwegian government is concerned over the development in Somalia, including the advance of Ethiopian troops into the neighboring country, the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK) reported on Thursday. Full story>>>

    AL meeting calls for immediate ceasefire in Somalia

    CAIRO, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Cairo-based Arab League (AL), which groups Somalia, Wednesday called for an immediate ceasefire among the conflicting parties in Somalia and the Ethiopian forces, Egypt's official news agency MENA reported. Full story>>>