Sunday, June 10, 2012

US-backed TFG Forces In Somalia Continue Mass Arrests In Afgooye

Saturday, June 9th, 2012 at 04:14 pm

SOMALIA: Government forces continue mass arrest operation in Afgooye town

By Malyun Ali

Mogadishu (RBC) Scores of young teenagers were arrested on Saturday after Somalia government forces backed by the African Union mission resumed search operation in Afgooye town, some 30km south of the capital, RBC Radio reports.

The search operation which were jointly conducted by the National Security Service [NSS] and the Somali Police Force [SPF] came after a grenade explosion targeted to the Afgooye police station on Friday night which the government forces suspected on Al Shabaab remnants still hiding in the town, sources told RBC Radio.

There were no independent confirmation about the number of the arrested people but some sources say that the joint forces were entering houses and commercial places to search for Al Shabaab suspects.

The arrested people, mostly young males were taken to Mogadishu for interrogation and are reported still detained in special detention cells belonged by National Security Service.

Afgooye district commissioner Ahmed Abdi who spoke to RBC Radio on phone said that the operation was underway these days to assure the security condition of the town as he denied that any mistreatment was done against civilians.

Since three weeks ago when Somalia government forces with the backing of AMISOM have seized Afgooye town there had been mass arrests there despite of the detained people were released later.


Somalia's Shebab mock US bounty, offer camels for Obama

AFP, Saturday 9 Jun 2012

Al-Qaeda-allied Shebab rebels in Somalia offer 10 camels to anyone who help locate US President Barack Obama and mock a $33-million-US offer in return of enabling the arrest of their top leaders

Somalia's Al-Qaeda-allied Shebab rebels Saturday mocked a US offer of up to $33 million for tip-offs enabling the arrest of its top leaders, saying they would give 10 camels to anyone who helped locate Barack Obama.

The highest price put up by the US State Department on Thursday was for Shebab chief Ahmed Abdi aw-Mohamed -- more commonly known as Godane or Abu Zubayr -- with a $7 million bounty for information on where he is hiding.

"I can assure you that these kind of things will never dissuade us from continuing the holy war against them," said another senior Shebab leader, Fuad Mohamed Khalaf, or "Shongole", in a message carried on several websites.

"There is nothing new in the fact that infidels pay to have Muslim leaders killed. They already did that by offering camels for the head of Prophet Mohammed, and the dollar is the camel of today," he said.

He was referring to an offer of 100 camels made for Prophet Mohammed when he was fleeing Mecca for Medina, according to the Koran.

Khalaf added: "Whoever informs the mujahideen fighters of the place where Obama can be found will get 10 camels and for (US Secretary of State Hillary) Clinton, we will offer 10 roosters and 10 hens."

The State Department said in a statement announcing the bounty for seven Shebab leaders that "the group is responsible for the killing of thousands of Somali civilians, Somali peace activists, international aid workers, journalists and African Union peacekeepers".

The Shebab still control large parts of southern Somalia, but African Union troops, government forces and Ethiopian soldiers have clawed back several key bases from the insurgents in recent months.

http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/44312.aspx


Shabelle Media Network (Mogadishu)

Somalia: Somali Cabinet Ministers Agree to Boost Military Operations

8 June 2012

Mogadishu — The Somali ministers attended a cabinet meeting today chaired by the prime minister, Cabdi Wahaab Ugass Xuseen Ugaas Khalif who is also the minister of trade and factories.

In this meeting several issues were discussed, including national security, the constitution and the military operations going on in the country.

The minister of defense was the first to give report on the achievements of his ministry, he reported that the coalition forces of the government army and AMISOM have jointly reached victory in securing many villages, and pointed out that they will shortly be capturing Kismayu town, which is very vital to the government.

He further pointed out that there will be a martial court in Afgooye where any member of the army who commits any crime against the citizens will be judged. He also added that the army will soon receive their salary and about 600 soldiers will be taken for training.

At the same time the minister of internal affairs informed the cabinet that there is need to make a police force to bring order in the areas the government ousted the Al shabaab forces from and are now under the government protection.

He also added that the district officer of Afgooye is coming to the end of his term in office.

The minister of constitutional affairs also informed the press the state of the new constitution and how it is coming up.

He also said that the traditional tribal leaders are doing a good job and are busy with selection of a committee that would represent the country in the Addis Ababa peace treaty.

The cabinet expressed in a clear statement that the national wealth could not be given out by anyone, and advised the citizens to be mindful of it.

And finally the cabinet jointly expressed their devotion in protecting the national wealth, and praised the coalition army of the government ofSomaliaand AMISOM on their commendable achievements on the war on Al shabaab and encouraged them to continue until the country is clean from these insurgents who are threat to the security of Somalia.

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