MOGADISHU, Dec 26, 2006 (AFP) - Somalia's Islamist movement on Tuesday vowed to wage a long-term war against Ethiopian forces backing the embattled Somali government, after Islamist fighters retreated from several frontline positions.

"We are ready to start long-lasting war with Ethiopia," Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, the head of the Islamist executive committee told a press conference, a day after Ethiopian warplanes supporting Somalia's weak transition government struck two airports in Islamist-held Mogadishu.

"You know that the Ethiopian invaders have started using extra power and bombing down Somalia, we have changed our military tactic" in the lawless east African nation, he explained.

"We are in a new stage of resistance. The enemy has started using air forces. Since we don't have heavy weapons to defend ourselves in this full-scale attack by the Meles forces, we have decided to change our tactics," he added, referring to Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi.

Heavy fighting began on December 20 after the expiry of an ultimatum by the Islamists for Ethiopia to pull its troops out of Somalia, heightening fears of a conflict that could draw in Ethiopia's foe, Eritrea.

Addis Ababa has accused the Islamists, who control large swathes of the lawless east African nation, of threatening the security of neighbouring Ethiopia.

Ahmed spoke as the Islamist forces retreated from several frontlines in Dinsoor and Burhakaba, south and east of the Somali government base of Baidoa some 250 kilometres (155 miles) north of the capital, and another position in the central region.

But the government urged the Islamists to surrender, promising them an amnesty.

"We strongly appeal to the Islamic courts to put down arms because the government has made a decision to give them complete amnesty," government spokesman Abdirahman Dinari told AFP.

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