3 groups prepare for battle in Somalia
Somalia government soldiers, joined by troops from neighboring Ethiopia, advanced toward Somalia’s capital Tuesday as Islamic fighters dug in and promised a “new phase” in the war — a chilling pronouncement from a movement that has threatened suicide attacks. Somalia called on the Council of Islamic Courts militias, bloodied by a week of artillery and mortar attacks, to surrender and promised amnesty if they lay down their weapons, government spokesman Abdirahman Dinari said. Full Story