Voltage wrote:Just think about it.
These guys control everything south of Gaalkacyo, drove the Ethiopians out of Beled-Weyne.
is that a palin speech? stop right there.
the ethios left belet wein after neogiations with sheikh sharif. from beletwein to jowhar is under sheikh sharif's control. there is war looming between al shabab and the islamic courts sympathetic to shaykh sharif peace proposals. proof is in the pudding. they are standing up to al shabab.
Islamist group say aid agencies welcome in central Somalia
08:55, October 07, 2008
A major Somali Islamist group reiterated on Monday that international aid agencies can operate in central Somalia where they control, a senior Islamist official said.
Sheik Dahir Addow said that aid agencies can safely work in central Somali regions where Islamic Courts Union (ICU), an insurgent movement that has ruled much of southern and central Somalia since 2006, is in its control.
Speaking to local reporters, Islamist-named governor of Middle Shabelle region in central Somalia said that his administration met with officials from three international aid agencies in the Middle Shabelle regional capital of Jawhar and discussed ways of strengthening of security for foreign and local humanitarian staff.
"We had the common understanding with the agencies that we allow them to operate here and help our people and we guarantee the security of their staff," Addow said.
Addow added that a six member delegation from UN aid agencies had arrived from Nairobi for a meeting with Islamist administrators and an agreement was reached that they resume their operations which have been halted because of an escalating security situation.
The development came three days after another faction, Al-shabaab Islamist movement, banned some aid agencies from operating in places under their control in south Somalia including the main port town of Kismayu.
The group accused Care International and International Medical corps of anti-Islamic activities but Care International, the U.S.-based aid agency, said on Monday that the direct threat by the Somali military group has put at risk the lives of 1 million people who need humanitarian aid.
Leaders of ICU, which is in full control of the central Somalia provinces of Middle Shablle, Hiran, Galgadud and Mudug, late last month invited aid agencies to freely operate in the regions under their control.
http://english.people.com.cn/90001/9077 ... 10602.html
Islamic Courts, al Shabaab 'on verge of war'
The source indicated that the biggest problem is al Shabaab's "opposition to peace" and the mortar raids on Mogadishu airport whenever a military or civilian airliner attempts to land.
Since September 16, when al Shabaab issued the threat, the airport has been targeted with mortars at least four times, leading to the government and its foreign allies' heavy shelling of civilian areas like Bakara Market in response.
However, a member of al Shabaab in Mogadishu accused the Islamic Courts of "wanting to destroy the [armed] struggle's successes."
"We will never accept the [Islamic] Courts' idea...our decision is to unite our strength so our goal of becoming the leaders of this country [Somalia] can be attained," said the al Shabaab source, who wished to remain anonymous due to the sensitivity of the matter.
Other Islamist sources in Mogadishu and Kismayo tell Garowe Online that the two insurgent groups Islamic Courts and al Shabaab have already taken steps to divide up the fighting ranks.
Al Shabaab reportedly expelled Islamic Courts fighters from the Jubba regions, including the port city of Kismayo, as the internal dispute worsened. In response, the Islamic Courts "barred" al Shabaab from using Mogadishu's Bakara Market, which the Somali government has long accused of being a major base for insurgents.
Islamic Courts leaders, including Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and Eritrea-based Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys, have publicly called on al Shabaab to stop the airport attacks.
Sheikh Sharif inked a peace deal with the Somali government in June, but Sheikh Aweys has opposed the agreement on grounds it provides no timetable for the withdrawal of Ethiopian forces
http://allafrica.com/stories/200810060130.html
