Islamic militia to hold back from assaulting town

NAIROBI, June 8 (Reuters) Somali Islamic militia who seized Mogadishu this week do not plan to attack the last remaining warlord stronghold of Jowhar, their leader said today.

But Mogadishu Islamic courts chairman Sheikh Sharif Ahmed told Reuters by telephone his militia would respond if attacked by warlord forces who are concentrated in Jowhar.

Scores of Somali residents fled the town yesterday fearing a bloody offensive by Islamic militia.

The militia won control of Mogadishu on Monday from a self-styled anti-terrorism warlord coalition, widely believed to be backed by Washington.

Their victory came after fierce fighting that had killed 350 people since February. Militiamen and residents said the Islamic side had been pushing towards Jowhar, the warlords' last redoubt, 90 km (55 miles) north of the capital.

Warlords militia were preparing to defend Jowhar, including an advance line outside the town.

''We have no plans to attack them in Jowhar. We are monitoring the coalition militia movements. If they attack us, we will of course answer them,'' Ahmed said.

''If their leaders have not learnt the lesson and continue with their aggression then we will have no option but to attack them,'' he said.

Fighters loyal to Jowhar warlord Mohamed Dheere have been reinforced by allies defeated in Mogadishu and the town of Balad which is on the road north from the capital.

Analysts say if the Islamic militia capture Jowhar, they will control most of the south of Somalia, raising questions about whether they will help install a weak interim government in the capital or set up a rival administration.

Reuters KD VV1450