Please bear with us as the site is going through many changes ranging from backend software upgrades to new design.
Some sections may become inaccesible in the next few weeks.
  FEEDBACK | OLD FRONT PAGE
 
NEW SECTION

TEST DRIVE SOMALINET VIDEOS SECTION!!!

 SomaliNet  News    English   

Somalia: Islamic militiamen capture key positions near Somali capital
Sat. June 03, 2006 07:10 pm. -


Mohamed Abdi Farah

(SomaliNet) Militia of Islamic courts is reported to have taken the control of other main positions from anti terror alliance in fierce battle in northeast outskirt of the capital Somalia, killing fourteen militiamen from both sides on Saturday. Reports say.

The militia of Islamic courts' union seized three key positions including formerly military camp Hilweine, El-Irfid and Aliyale villages alongside the road to Balad town of middle Shabelle region, sources confirmed.

“Fierce gun battle is going on around formerly Hilweine military camp near Balad town of middle Shabelle region, with both rival sides are exchanging artillery gunfire, machine-guns, assault rifles and RPGs” witnesses told Somalinet.

People in the battle area began to flee as the fighting intensified late on Saturday.

The latest battle follows clashes erupted in northeast villages of the capital last week in which Islamic militiamen took the control of main positions from militia of warlords.

However two hundred militias loyal to minister of disarmament and rehabilitation of militias Botan Isse Alin with 15 battlewagons reached in Baidoa town 250km southwest of the capital later today.

Baidoa, is the temporarily capital of the transitional federal government.

The militia themselves said they have decided to join the government since their positions have captured by Islamic courts in the capital.

The acting-minister of interior and minister of agriculture Mohamed Nor Shati Gadud and chief commander of Somali forces Ali Madobe have welcomed the militia to Baidoa.

It is the first time militia of anti terror alliance defected to Baidoa since its establishment on 18 February 2006.

Elsewhere, international aid agencies and foreign relief workers in Jowhar, provisional town of middle Shabelle region began to withdraw from there as the war tension in region is high.

News Category: Somalia
Latest Headlines


59

ACTIVE CHAT GROUPS
E-PALS(17) NORTH AMERICA(41) EUROPE(1)
:::59 CHATTERS ONLINE:::
ALL CATEGORIES *multiple rooms in each
SOMALINET FORUMS
This gigantic community center has whopping 1,641,415 posts, 110,174 topics and 76,050 users! Old forum data has been archived and will soon be fully browsable.