Somali Islamic militia pushed further north today after winning a bloody three-month battle for control of Mogadishu from warlords widely believed to be backed by Washington.
Fighters loyal to Somalia's sharia courts seized the lawless capital from a self-styled anti-terrorism coalition of warlords on Monday after fierce fighting that had killed some 350 people, mostly civilians, since February.
Hundreds more people were wounded in close-quarter street battles using mortars and anti-aircraft artillery. Somalia's interim prime minister, Mohamed Ali Gedi, congratulated the Islamic side on their victory against the warlords.
It was the first time the warlords had been dislodged from Mogadishu since ousting former dictator Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991, and many of them were reported to be on the run.
The Islamic fighters advanced today towards the warlord stronghold of Jowhar, about 90 kilometres north of Mogadishu.
Militia leader Siyad Mohamed, who is allied to the Islamic courts, said the Islamic side told the warlord coalition to hand over weapons.
The interim government, based in the southern town of Baidoa, is too weak to enter Mogadishu, and many Somalis believe the warlords formed their alliance to undermine it. Some of the warlords were cabinet ministers who were sacked this week for their role in the fighting.
The Islamic victory prompted concern in Washington which fears Somalia could become a haven for terrorists akin to Taliban-ruled Afghanistan.
Some analysts view the violence as a proxy war between the United States and Islamic militants. Washington has refused to discuss persistent reports it is covertly funnelling $100,000 a month or more to the warlords.