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18 May 2009 Somalia — Al-Shabab Islamists said
Sunday they will continue fighting against the
government until it collapses and the African Union
troops leave the country.
The spokesman of the Shabab, Sheik Mukhtar Abu
Mansur, said they were fighting in Mogadishu and other
central towns what he called infidels and their
stooges.
Al-Shabab and Hisbul Islam groups are fighting
against the Somalia government which controls a few
blocks in Mogadishu.
Separately, Sheik Yusuf Mohamed Siad Indho Ade who
held a press conference in Mogadishu declared that his
group joined the government and vowed to defend it.
He described the Islamist rebels as violence makers
and called for the Somali people to defend the
government.
The Islamist leader with eleven battle wagons
joined the government on Sunday and met with Somali
president Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed and Prime Minister
Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke in the presidential
palace.
Islamists Capture Another
Strategic Town
On Monday, Al-Shabab Islamists captured Mahaday, a
strategic town about 23 kilometers (13 miles) north of
Jowhar, the regional capital of middle Shabelle
Region.
The seizure of Mahaday and Jowhar towns will be a
big blow to the fledgling government of Sheik Sharif
Sheik Ahmed.
Armored vehicles of al-Shabab were seen in Mahaday
overnight. It is not known the whereabouts of the
Islamic Courts Union who were controlling Middle
Shabelle region.
The Islamists seized Jowhar on Sunday after three
hours of fighting. Three combatants and civilian was
killed in the fighting.
Residents said al-Shabab captured the town with no
resistances from the Islamic Courts Union
Three districts of the four districts of Middle
Shabelle region has now fallen to the hands of al-Shabab.
EsinIslam.Com
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