At least six pro-government fighters have been confirmed dead and 17 others injured after ... Al Shabaab attacked a government military base in Mogadishu with volleys of mortars, an official said on Monday.
Speaking to reporters in the Somali capital, Mohamed Mohamoud Aseyr, an official of Somalia’s moderate Sufi group of Ahlu Sunna Waljama (ASWJ) said that all killed or injured in the mortar attack were from his group.
“Early Monday morning, we have awakened by mortars raining down on our military trenches. All 17 wounded fighters were rushed to the government health facilities in Mogadishu,” Aseyr stated.
He said that the attack took place at Mogadishu’s Hodan district while they were expanding into military positions captured from Al Shabaab on Sunday.
Other sources, who demanded anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter, told All Headline News that two military commanders of Ahlu Sunna were among those killed in the mortar attack...
The attack comes after five days of battle with the militants by Somali forces backed by AMISOM forces and Ahlu Sunna fighters.
Sources at Mogadishu hospitals said that they had received nearly 100 injured, mainly civilians, in the last four days.
AP:
[Maj. Paddy Ankunda, a spokesman for African Union troops in Somalia,] said the AU's ultimate target is Mogadishu's main market, Bakara, which al-Shabab currently controls.-- -- --
...
Ankunda said that the AU force would kill an American fighting with al-Shabab if it could.
Omar Hammami, known as Abu Mansur al-Amriki, or "the American," held a news conference in the open last week, where he said that militants would seek revenge for the death of Osama bin Laden. Hammami, who sipped coconut milk from a straw as he spoke, gave the open-air news conference about 40 miles (60 kilometers) southwest of Mogadishu.
"We have the interest but unfortunately we don't have the capabilities to deliver such an attack," Ankunda said. "But honestly we do have the interest."
Shabelle Media: 15 killed, 80 hurt in Mogadishu shelling
Clashes erupted between Somali forces backed by AMSIOM and Al shabaab fighters in Mogadishu on Wednesday killing at least 15 people and hurting 80 others.
Health officials said most of the victims harmed by shrapnel of haphazard artillery bombardments both the warring factions used during the confrontations.
A number of mortar shells have been reported to have landed in many parts of Mogadishu’s largest and busiest market of Bakaara where most of casualties took place.
Ali Muse Sheikh, head of Mogadishu ambulance service confirmed Shabelle that they had collected nearly eighty wounded in today’s battles.
Timely AU press release: The African Union Concerned by the Prevailing Humanitarian Situation in Somalia
The Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union (AU), Dr. Jean Ping, is particularly concerned by the prevailing humanitarian situation in Somalia.-- -- --
...
..the Chairperson of the Commission strongly appeals to all AU Member States in a position to do so and to all other members of the international community to urgently provide the support required to assist the Somali people in this particularly difficult moment. The international community has the duty and obligation to assist the Somali people, who have been experiencing two decades of untold violence and suffering.
The Chairperson of the Commission seizes this opportunity to express AU’s profound appreciation to all the humanitarian agencies and organizations providing assistance to the Somali people, in a very challenging security situation.
He reiterates AU’s commitment to continue supporting the Somali people, particularly through the presence and strengthening of its Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).
Damage control, a little late
From Friday's AMISOM press release:
The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), condemns Wednesday’s indiscriminate shelling of civilians in Mogadishu’s Bakara market which killed an estimated 14 and wounded several others. The deaths in Bakara were purely the responsibility of the extremists.
AMISOM Force Spokesman, Major Paddy Ankunda, said: “AMISOM has designated Bakara market a “no fire zone” and does not fire artillery or mortars into the market...
...
"We reassure all civilians and the business community that plans to flush extremists out of the market will be conducted with the greatest care to ensure minimal harm and damage.
...
“There will undoubtedly be difficult days ahead and we urge people to take precautions and minimize unnecessary movement into areas of the city outside Government control.
A day earlier,
Shabelle Media: Somali govt: Bakaara businessmen should not take part in the battles
The businessmen of Mogadishu’s largest and busiest market were warned against fighting alongside Al shabaab, a Somali military official said on Thursday.-- -- --
Abdullahi Ali Anod, the commander of second brigade of presidential guards said that Somali forces are approaching to Bakaara market so the businessmen should not help Al shabaab fighters.
He said that it is the time Somali army to capture the main market and heart of Al shabaab movement, which controls much of southern and central Somalia.
He noted that the government doesn’t intend to get into the market but committed clearing the rebels from the capital and country in general.
Michael Weinstein's continues to chronicle the ongoing battles for survival between the TFG and TFP in his latest analysis, The Transition Settles into Drifting Conflict
-- -- --
Shabelle Media: Al shabaab claims pirates purged from Harardhere
The Al shabaab movement on Sunday claimed that have purged Somali pirates from the coastal town of Harardhere in central Somalia.
Sheikh Yusuf Sheikh Isse, Al shabaab’s governor of Galgudud region in central Somalia, has addressed hundreds of people at Harardhere town and stated they managed to assure the overall security and stability of the area.
Isse noted that Somali pirates had been bothering the residents there before Al shabaab had taken over a year ago.
He said that they will continue their efforts to fight against piracy related issues and activities in the region in general.
0 comments:
Post a Comment