December
17, 2006: The Islamic Courts say they are not going to attack Baidoa, and
apparently expect the town, and the Transitional Government, to fall without a
fight.
December
14, 2006: Eritrea, which is opening supporting the Islamic Courts, has sent a
team to Iran, to plea for support in their dispute with Ethiopia, and support
of the Islamic Courts in Somalia.
The
U.S. believes that the Islamic Courts are dominated by wanted al Qaeda
operatives, and that it is too late to save the Transitional Government. The Al
Qaeda members in Somalia include those responsible for the 1998 attacks on two
American embassies in east Africa. Al Qaeda has used millions of dollars in
donations from backers in Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Yemen, to establish
themselves in Somalia. The United States does not plan to send troops into
Somalia to deal with Islamic terrorists there, but will try and negotiate with
the less exterme Islamic extremists who dominate the Islamic Courts.
December
12, 2006: Islamic Courts fighters have surrounded the last Transitional
Government stronghold, Baidoa. The Islamic Courts have ordered Ethiopian forces
to get out of Somalia within a week, or face attack.
