MOGADISHU, 5 Jan. 2007 - Somalia U-S Navy warships are patrolling off the coast of Somalia. Their mission is to make sure members of an Islamic militia don't escape by sea.

Troops from both Somalia and Ethiopia are preparing for a major assault. They'll be targeting a town in southern Somalia that's the militiamen's last stronghold. The country's defense minister warns the militia's options are to "drown in the sea or to fight and die."

But in a tape on the Internet, al-Qaida's deputy leader is trying to rally the militia. He's telling them to attack troops from Ethiopia, which has a large Christian population. He accuses them of an "invasion."

Source: AP