Somali Islamists declare 'jihad' against Ethiopia

MOGADISHU, Oct 9 (Reuters) Somalia's powerful Islamists today declared holy war against Horn of Africa rival Ethiopia, which they accused of invading Somalia to prop up the shaky interim government.

''Starting from today, we have declared jihad against Ethiopia,'' Islamist leader Sheikh Sharif Ahmed told a news conference, while wearing combat fatigues and clutching an AK-47 assault rifle.

REUTERS PDM HT1700