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Islamists flee Ethiopian onslaught in Somalia 
Troops kill 1,000, force survivors into hurried retreat

Ethiopian troops routed Islamist forces in fighting and air strikes across Somalia yesterday, killing 1,000 and forcing survivors into a hurried retreat.

Fighters of the Islamic Courts Union (ICU) were pushed out of several strategic towns close to the seat of Somalia's weak transitional government, which Addis Ababa has sent 4,000 troops to protect. Convoys of technicals – pick-ups fitted with anti-aircraft guns – were speeding south from the frontline towards their power base in Mogadishu, with the Ethiopians giving chase.

Abdikarin Farah, Somalia's ambassador to Ethiopia, said in Addis Ababa: "Ethiopian forces are on their way to Mogadishu. They are about 40 miles away and they could capture it in 48 hours."

However, Meles Zenawi, Ethiopia's prime minister, denied that his aim was to take the capital. "Our military is skirting the towns and attacking only military bases. We have completed half our mission, and as soon as we finish the second half, our troops will leave Somalia."

The African Union (AU) backed Ethiopia's offensive, saying the country had a right to defend itself from the ICU's advance. Senior members of the ICU have vowed to wage holy war on Ethiopia.

"The AU recognises that Ethiopia was threatened by the Islamic courts and we acknowledge its rights to self defence," said Patrick Mazimhaka, the AU's deputy commissioner. "But we hope the AU will be able to do something to avoid the escalation and the intervention of other neighbours in the conflict."

The United States also defended Ethiopia's attacks but urged it to exercise "maximum restraint". "Ethiopia has genuine security concerns and has provided support at the request of legitimate governing authority," Gonzo Gallegos, the state department spokesman, said.

At least two Ethiopian jets fired missiles on Islamist forces retreating from frontlines yesterday.

Mr Meles claimed that up to 1,000 ICU fighters had been killed, and that the majority were foreigners who had answered a call to fight jihad from the ICU's leadership. Several British passport-holders were among 300 ICU fighters arrested after the Ethiopians took one town, Mr Meles said.

Mogadishu's hospitals were reportedly swamped with 3,000 wounded fighters and some civilians.

Somalia's transitional government, which sits in Baidoa, has relied on the support of Ethiopia to counter the challenge to its authority posed by the ICU, which took control of vast swathes of the country in June. The Islamists have introduced strict sharia law to the towns they control, and are accused by Addis Ababa and the West of harbouring al-Qa'eda terrorists.

But they have won broad support from the population for introducing a semblance of law and order after 15 years without central government.

Yesterday, Somalia offered an amnesty to the ICU but Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed, the ICU deputy leader, said: "The war is entering a new phase. We will fight Ethiopia for a long time."