Article

2010-05-06 Africa Horn

Somali Islamists planning wave of attacks: AU

[Al Arabiya Latest] Hard-line Islamist rebels are planning to carry out a wave of suicide attacks on the capital Mogadishu with vehicles packed full of explosives, the African Union peacekeeping force in Somalia (AMISOM) said on Wednesday.

A three year insurgency led by al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabaab militants has ravaged the bullet-scarred city and claimed at least 21,000 lives in the African nation since early 2007.

"Credible information reaching AMISOM indicates that some of the armed opposition groups are planning to carry out a series of synchronized suicide attacks and planting IEDs (improvised explosive device) in public places," AMISOM said in a statement.

"They have prepared several vehicles loaded with explosives both in Mogadishu and surrounding areas to carry out atrocities against the innocent civilian population," it said.

AMISOM said mosques and markets were the most likely targets and urged residents to be on the lookout for four Toyota 4x4s, a white lorry with an AU insignia, two Nissan diesel lorries, a "battlewagon" and a van.

Last weekend 40 people were killed in two attacks on mosques in Mogadishu and the southern port city of Kismayu.

Analysts say the Islamist fighters are increasingly copying the tactics of insurgents in Iraq where Sunni and Shiite militia often target each other's mosques. No group has claimed responsibility for the Somali attacks.

"The extremists' forces have of late become desperate after losing the support of the people and experiencing infighting within their leadership," AMISOM said.

In March, Ahlu Sunna Waljamaca (ASWJ), a rebel group that comprises moderate Sufi Muslims fighting the insurgent groups al-Shabaab and Hizbul Islam in central Somalia said they had agreed to join the government.

Reservations
Ahlu Sunna's spiritual leader, Sheikh Mahmoud Sheikh Hassan, on Wednesday expressed reservations on joining the government and said he had ordered his men to leave Mogadishu.

"It is true; we have pulled out of this agreement. I ordered our delegation to leave Mogadishu and join us here to defend our territories," Ahlu Sunna spiritual leader Sheikh Mahmoud Sheikh Hassan, told Reuters by phone from Dhusamareeb.

Ahlu Sunna was due to take up cabinet positions in the government in April, but has quarrelled with the government over who should represent them and over fulfilling the deal terms.

There is also disagreement on whether Ahlu Sunna has pulled out of the deal.

"We did not pull out of the agreement. I have heard that from the radio, but our leaders did not tell us to pull out," Ali Hussein, one of Ahlu Sunna's negotiators in Mogadishu, said.

Posted by Fred 2010-05-06 00:00|| || Front Page|| [5 views ] Top
File under: al-Shabaab

#1 "Hard-line Islamist rebels are planning to carry out a wave of suicide attacks on the capital Mogadishu with vehicles packed full of explosives"

I dont think Hard-line Islamists plan for anything else .. Not much variety in their social diet .

Posted by Oscar 2010-05-06 07:32|| 2010-05-06 07:32|| Front Page Top

#2 I dont think Hard-line Islamists plan for anything else ..

Mostly they seem to be into shoot-em-ups and gun sex, Oscar, and checking to see if women are wearing bras to make themselves more attractive than they really are, thus leading good Muslim men astray.

Posted by trailing wife 2010-05-06 08:40|| 2010-05-06 08:40|| Front Page Top

#3 Dont speak too loudly TW , we wouldnt want an earthquake

:)

Posted by Oscar 2010-05-06 09:48|| 2010-05-06 09:48|| Front Page Top

#4 That's ok, Oscar. These are Sunni jihadis; the earthquake ruling is for Shiites.

Posted by trailing wife 2010-05-06 11:28|| 2010-05-06 11:28|| Front Page Top

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