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Somalia: The declared offensive by the government still delayed

11. February 2010

On February 7 Yusuf Mohamed Siyad, Somalia’s state defence minister, said to Associated Press, that “our soldiers have made their final preparations to deal with the security and will soon take action,” But since it seems more and more clear that the initiatives are still in the hands of the insurgents while the situation of the government looks more and more bad as you can see by the news from a single day – February 10.

“Rebels ‘poor into Somali capital’”, BBC wrote February 10 describing how “hundreds of Somali insurgents loyal to Islamist group al-Shabab have poured into Mogadishu” according to witnesses.

“Eyewitnesses reported that fighters, about 20 vehicles and artillery had arrived in Somalia’s capital overnight.”

Reuters also reported on reinforcements of the rebels February 10. It quotes a woman, who – according the Reuters – said that “many fighters from the Al Shabab rebel group, which professes its loyalty to al Qaeda, had entered the capital from one of their bases in the southern port of Kismayo.”

Bitter internal confrontation kills 4 soldiers in Mogadishu

On February 10 Shabelle among others wrote:

“At least 4 government soldiers have been killed and three others wounded in Mogadishu after better confrontation between the transitional government troops happened in parts of Hamar-jajab district in the Somali capital Mogadishu, witnesses told Shabelle radio on Wednesday.

“One of the residents around the areas confirmed to Shabelle radio that the fighting was between the military forces of the TFG and broke out as the police forces took a rifle from the military troops which caused more military forces to reach at the scene and dispute and start gun at Hamar-jajab district in the capital.

“Reports say the clash was between the police and military forces of the TFG who were in Hama-dhowr and Policia School, a strategic military compounds for the transitional government troops in Mogadishu killing 4 soldiers injuring 3 others as the fighting continued there.

“The troops were reportedly those who were trained in Djibouti recently and brought back to the country to be part of the government soldiers….

“There is no comment from the transitional government officials about today’s clash and the confrontation seems to be part of the other violence that often starts between the government troops in the Somali capital Mogadishu.”

‘Deadly explosion occurs in Mogadishu, Al-shabab claims*

Under this headline Shabelle wrote February 10:

“Deadly explosion targeted to government soldiers has occurred at Hamar Jajab district in the Somali capital Mogadishu, just after Harakat Al-shabab Mujahideen claimed its responsibility, witnesses and officials said on Wednesday.

“Witnesses told Shabelle radio that the blast was landmine explosion happened between the big seaport of Mogadishu and Bundo 2, in Hamar-jajab district in the capital adding that it had killed two soldiers, wounding 5 others in the blast.

“Harakat Al-shabab Mujahideen officials have issued a press release shortly after it occurred and claimed the responsibility of the blast saying that they had killed 6 soldiers in the explosion wounding 5 others adding that the mine unit of Harakat Al-shabab Mujahideen had carried out the attack.

“The press release also said they the soldiers opened fire to the Somali people after the explosion which reportedly caused more casualties adding that the attack was a revenge of more people who were committed more intimidations by the government soldiers recently.”

Al-shabab says its fighters targeted blasts to AMISOM’s base in Mogadishu, spokesman denies

Under this headline Shabelle wrote February 10:

“The officials of Harakat Al-shabab mujahideen have Wednesday said that their fighters targeted explosions to the main base of the African Union troops (AMSIOM) in Mogadishu and killed officers, just as the spokesman of the African Union troops denied claims.

“Sheik Ali Mohamud Raghe, the spokesman of Harakat Al-shabab Mujahideen told reporters that their fighters targeted explosions to Halane, the military base for the AMISOM troops in the Somali capital Mogadishu on Wednesday afternoon adding that they had killed several officers of AMISOM troops there in southern Somalia.

“The spokesman of Harakat Al-shabab Mujahideen said that the blast was carried out tactically by their forces at a hole very close the shore around the airport where the officers of AMISOM were enjoying stressing that they had reached victory over their attack.

“We are congratulating to the Somali people that Harakat Al-shabab Mujahideen carried out great explosions to AMISOM’s base at Halane and killed more of their men. We shall explain how the blast was planned at later,” said the spokesman of AMISOM.

“On the other hand the spokesman of AMISOM troops major. Brigye Bahuko who was speaking to Shabelle radio had denied that any explosion had been targeted to any of their bases in the capital saying that Harakat Al-shabab Mujahideen use its fighting for the media.

“We can point out that statement as madness, because the people saying that they had attacked Halane base were indulge ones. They used Mirow (kat). It is false that we have been attacked. No casualties had reached to our forces,” said AMISOM’s spokesman….

“Some of the residents around airport whom we had contacted told Shabelle radio that the sound of big explosion could be heard the side of Halane compound, the main base of the African Union troops AMISOM in Mogadishu.”

Few minutes shelling leaves more than 10, injuries 15 others in Mogadishu

Under this headline Shabelle wrote – again on February 10:

“More than 10 people have killed and 15 others wound after heavy shelling targeted to more different neighborhoods in Mogadishu with in few minutes, witnesses told Shabelle radio on Wednesday….

“Most of the mortars were landed on Wadnaha street that passes beside Bakara, the biggest market in the capital and halted the movement of the business in the market according to witnesses and businessmen adding that more shells hit into the market killing 7 people and injuring 8 others as the shelling continued.

“One witnesses told Shabelle radio that a mortar had landed on traffic civilian at the bus station of Bakara market killing one woman adding that it had destroyed whole the vehicle.

“Three people were killed at General Da’ud intersection in Mogadishu as mortar shell landed there, others were injured,” said one witnesses.

“More other areas in Mogadishu as Hodan, Hawl-wadag, Wardigley, Heliwa, Yaqshid, and several other districts in the capital thought the real casualties of those areas are unclear so far,”

Reuters claimed that “hardline Islamist insurgents fired mortar shells at the Villa Somalia presidential palace, prompting African Union (AU) guards to respond with a deafening barrage of artillery.”

On February 9 Garowe Online wrotes:

“Somali Islamist oppose Djibouti peace troops*

Somalia’s Hizbul Islam officials condemns Djibouti for its readiness to send peacekeeping troops to the war-torn country.

Sheik Mohamed Ma’alin, the information secretary of Hizbul Islam told a press conference in the Somali capital Mogadishu that the brotherly and neighboring country is undertaking a foreign agenda that will destroy the Somali people.

“It’s unfortunate that Djibouti is becoming part of the countries that work for foreign interest, which undermine Somali people. We urge them not send troops to Somalia, he said.

He announced that his group is planning to conduct on Friday a large demonstration to oppose the deployment of Djiboutian troops into the country.

Djibouti, which has played crucial role in hosting Somali reconciliation and peace talks, has recently pledged to send peacekeeping troops to the war-torn on the request of both AU and Somali government.

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