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Africa Horn
Somali Islamist Fighters Seize 2nd Town
2008-03-08
Islamist insurgents killed five government soldiers while briefly taking a strategic town in central Somalia, police and residents said, the second such seizure within 24 hours.

The attack late Thursday took place in Belet Weyne, near a critical road junction that links Somalia to the border with Ethiopia. Hundreds of troops are stationed at the junction, which is also Ethiopia's main supply route.

"They launched a surprise attack on the town from different directions, facing pockets of resistance from government forces and immediately took the control of the police station, the prison and a hotel government regional officials were using," said a police officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals. The town's police chief, Col. Abdi Aden, confirmed that five government soldiers had been killed.

Local resident Duniyo Ali said the fighters had retained control of the town for about three hours before fleeing voluntarily withdrawing. The area was now calm, she said.

Also Thursday, residents said Islamists had seized Hudur, a strategic southwestern Somali town that lies along the road leading from Ethiopia into Somalia, without firing a shot.
Posted by:Fred

#2  O/T but every time I read “Somali islamist”, I harken back to a certain photo of Obama in a “Kenyan cultural costume”.

Obama was dressed in Somali muslim cultural garb by his family, not Kenyan garb. His family background may be more islamist somalian -ethnic somali - than “Kenyan”. Not quite as “noble” a heritage as Obama wants to believe. So, as ethnic Somali, Obama’s Islamic family are likely Sunni. Which answer’s Obama’s question.as to not knowing if his heritage was Sunni or Shiite.

Definitely though, muslim all down the line. (in a country 85% Christian) “Til Obama enters the public eye and suddenly “Dad”’s a Christian and Christian Obama belongs to a church that can be attended without conflicting with islam, or any other religion. One can be muslim and still be a member of the church for instance.. A black member, of course.

So Obama comes to America from the 15% (overtipping point) islamist muslim minority in Kenya and claims “Kenyan” heritage to smooth things over. Failed coup in Kenya in 1982 – Obama’s Dad dies in car accident in Nairobi in 1982. (Even drunks have their uses.) Dad was a muslim Luo.


Obama says heÂ’s not a muslim but heÂ’s got taquiyya down pat.
Posted by: ThinempWhimble   2008-03-08 14:00  

#1  According to my Lonely Planet Guide of Somalia, you can get a good cup of coffee in Belet Weyne.
Posted by: Jack is Back!   2008-03-08 08:19  

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