Tribes and warlords of Somalia resist Islamist

NY Times:

Tensions were high in Somalia's capital today as the Islamic militants who seized control of Mogadishu the day before vowed to set up a religious state, but thousands of people allied with the one of the country's largest clans held a rally to protest that move.

The warlords who have been pushed from their strongholds in Mogadishu vowed to fight back against the Islamists, according to news agency reports from the capital.

Bashir Rageh, a warlord who lost control of a key airstrip and port in March, and Muse Sudi Yalahow, another Mogadishu leader who lost ground to the Islamic militias, attended a rally at a stadium north of the capital with thousands of backers from the Abgal clan.

"Our clan has agreed to defend our land and we will fight the courts hiding under the cloak of Islam and trying to fool our people," said Mr. Rageh, who was protected by heavily armed security men.

The protesters' rally, held about a mile from positions held by Islamic militias, demonstrated the challenges that the new rulers of the capital will face in consolidating power after 15 years of anarchy there. Clan allegiance has long been the most powerful force in Somalia, trumping religion. By rallying the Abgal clan, the warlords and other opponents of the Islamists have sought to redefine the conflict.

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The Islamist cannot be allowed to create a sanctuary for terrorist including al Qaeda. If such attempts are made the US needs to make it clear that the "courts" will be facing real troops and preceision guided munitions.