Islamist Force Advancing On Somalia’s South

Days after winning control of this capital city, an Islamist militia advanced Friday toward Jawhar, the last stronghold of secular warlords believed to be backed by Washington.

“Our forces have moved toward the warlord forces,” said Siyad Mohamed, a leader of the militia, the Islamic Courts Union. Residents confirmed that the militia had advanced.

Jawhar warlords, reinforced by allies, pushed southward Thursday to Qalimoy village.

“If their movements continue, we will have no option but to attack them,” Mohamed said.

In Baidoa, headquarters of a transitional government that has been unable to assert its authority, at least five people were killed at a checkpoint in a clash between local militiamen and guards loyal to interim President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed, a government spokesman said. Yusuf was not present during the clash.

The United States, which said this week that it might be open to dealing with the Islamist militia, called a meeting for next week in New York to discuss strategy on Somalia, bringing together officials from the United Nations, Europe and Africa.