ADDIS ABABA, Dec 28 (Reuters) - Ethiopian and Somali government troops have reached the outskirts of Mogadishu, and will pursue Islamist leaders trying to flee the country by sea, Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi said on Thursday.

"We are discussing what to do so that Mogadishu will not descend into chaos. We will not let Mogadishu burn," Meles told reporters in Addis Ababa. "The Islamic Courts Union leaders, Eritreans and international jihadists are fleeing ... but we'll continue to pursue them -- that's our agenda."

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