The advancement of the Union of Islamic Courts in Somalia is continuing almost unchecked. They now control up to the border with Ethiopia and are increasing their control. Arresting journalists and closing radio stations that report any dissenting views.

Somalinet: Forces loyal to Islamic Courts have captured villages of Kalaber and Jawil in Hiran region north of Somalia and bordering with Ethiopia on Saturday - reports say. It is part of Islamists’ expansion policy to entire Somalia.

Sheik Nor Ibrahim, one of the senior Islamists in Baledweyn, confirmed today that they had seized control of Kaleber and Jawil, adding that they attacked the villages with 13 battlewagons and lost one soldier. The environs are about 400km (248 miles) north of Somalia capital Mogadishu.

All Africa: The UIC militias arrested the three HornAfrik journalists - Sahro Abdi Ahmed, Layla Sheik Ismail and Adam Mohammed Salad - at around 11 a.m. (local time) on 29 September 2006, one of their colleagues told Reporters Without Borders. Ismail is also the correspondent of the Somali Broadcasting Corporation (SBC), a privately-owned radio and TV station based in Puntland, while Salad is also the correspondent of the Puntland-based Radio Daljir.

The UIC militias, who arrived in Kismayo on 24 September, were also looking for reporter Hassan Mohammed Nur and Nasteh Dahir Farah, the manager of HornAfrik's branch in Kismayo. Both went into hiding at once. Ahmed, Ismail and Salad were released a few hours later after being ordered not to refer to the Islamic courts any more….

…The UIC militiamen said they had come to the station because it had broadcast statements by inhabitants of Kismayo criticising the militias and had referred to the disturbances in the city, the third largest in Somalia, since their arrival. Many of Kismayo's inhabitants have criticised the militias' high-profile presence, the restrictions they have imposed, their replacement of the Somali flag and the fact that they fired on protesters, killing a 13-year-old child.

Also see this interview with the leader of the Islamic Courts , Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys.

(Asharq Al-Awsat) Did you issue a fatwa ordering the Vatican Pope's murder for what he said about Islam?

(Aweys) No, none of the Islamic Courts' leaders said anything of the sort, and we are not about to sanction his killing, but I feel that the Pope did not speak well about Islam and was wrong. We are however optimistic about what he said, because in the days of the first Muslims, when people spoke ill of the prophet (may God's peace and prayers be upon him), it was a sign that the Muslims would defeat them and conquer their lands.

(Asharq Al-Awsat) Does this mean that Muslims will invade the Vatican for example?

(Aweys, laughing) No, it is not like that, but I am optimistic Muslims will triumph, and you will soon see that I am right.

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