An Islamic militia has taken control of Mogadishu and the interim government - which had failed to control spiralling violence in the capital - now controls a very small area of the country.

The Union of Islamic Courts has written to the UN, the US, the EU and others to assure them that they are independently trying to restore order to their homeland after years of civil war. They claim that they have no ties with Al Qaeda and do not share their political or military aims.

The jury is still out...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/5093494.stm

"President Abdullahi Yusuf has set three conditions for talks:

The Islamic courts leave other towns they have seized and withdraw to Mogadishu
They recognise his government
They lay down their weapons
In return, the Islamists refuse to have talks until the government says it does not want foreign peacekeepers.

The government controls only a small part of the country and is based in Baidoa, some 200km north of Mogadishu.

African Union's conflict management department spokesman Assane Ba told AP that the meeting in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, would be a "joint consultation" between the AU and western diplomats.

On Sunday, UK Minister for Africa Lord Triesman called on the government and the Islamic courts to begin a dialogue to try to bring order to the country."

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