Thousands of Somali and Ethiopian troops were closing in Saturday on the last remaining stronghold of a militant Islamic movement. Somalia's prime minister called for dialogue, but warned that any resistance would be met with force. Somali government spokesman Abdirahman Dinari said the next stop was Kismayo. «We are going to advance from different directions to try and encircle the city and force the Islamic group to retreat and so minimize the loss of civilians,» he told The Associated Press. Prime Minister Ali Mohamed Gedi called for talks _ but also said the government was ready to fight. «We are calling on the Somali representatives of the Islamic courts for dialogue and to join us,» Gedi said on the outskirts of the capital, where he was meeting with Mogadishu clan elders under an acacia tree to smooth the takeover of the city. But he added: «If the remnants of the terrorists try to attack, yes of course bloodshed will take place.»
