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Africa Horn |
Somali battle kills 123, maybe including Sheikh Aweys |
2009-06-08 |
![]() Witnesses said scores of bodies lay in the streets of Wabho town after fighters from the al Shabaab and Hizbul Islam groups battled militant group Ahla Sunna Waljamaca for control. Most of the deaths were on Friday. The local Elman Peace and Human Rights Organisation said it had confirmed 123 fighters killed in one of the worst flare-ups of the year in the conflict-riven Horn of Africa nation. In Mogadishu, al Shabaab has been battling the security forces of President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed. In the central region, pro- and anti-government militias have been fighting all year, with towns changing hands regularly. ![]() "Hassan Dahir died in El Bur," Alha Sunna spokesman Sheikh Abdullahi Sheikh Abu Yusuf told Reuters, referring to a nearby town with a hospital. "We seriously injured him yesterday. This is good news." If confirmed, Aweys' death would be a major blow to the rebels and a boost for Ahmed's government, which had tried unsuccessfully to broker peace talks with the cleric. But Hizbul Islam spokesman Sheikh Musa Arale denied the report of Aweys' death. "Sheikh Hassan is alive and unharmed," he told Reuters. "That is the propaganda of our enemies whose commanders and leaders we killed yesterday." Some residents of Wabho and a Hizbul Islam fighter said Aweys was injured and taken to hospital in El Bur. "I understand Sheikh Hassan was hit by bullets in the back and thighs," the fighter, who asked not to be named, told Reuters. "He may be serious but I have not heard of his death." Neither side controlled Wabho on Saturday, locals said, but the battles had halted for them to collect and bury corpses. |
Posted by:Fred |
#4 Sure it's civilized - in an Islamonutter-henna-doused-Mad-Max-psudo-post-apocalyptic sort of way. |
Posted by: Pappy 2009-06-08 23:15 |
#3 .. sarcasm? I assume, for you, it's also "civilized" when western nations made similar cease fire agreements.. |
Posted by: dcreeper 2009-06-08 15:04 |
#2 How "civilized", time out for gathering the garbage for disposal. |
Posted by: Steven 2009-06-08 11:41 |
#1 "He may be serious but I have not heard of his death." I'd be serious about being shot in the back and thighs |
Posted by: Frank G 2009-06-08 04:47 |