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Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Somalia: Mogadishu's Ex-Mayor Compound Invaded By Ethiopians


An army of Ethiopian soldiers headed by a Tigrey sergeant stormed the house of the ex Mayer of Mogadishu, Mohammed Dheere, earlier today.  The soldiers were heavily equiped with tanks and automatic machine guns.

Imedietely after invading Mr. Dheere's home, the Ethiopians set up a barracade along the corners of his compound then spread themselves near the surrounding area.  

There are no reports on the whereabouts of Mr. Dheere but some suspect he may have been taken into custody by the Ethiopian soldiers.

Mohammed Dheere served as the Mayor of Mogadishu under the Somali TFG and was a key ally to the now ex-Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf.  Mr. Dheere was fired as the Mogadishu Mayer by the current Somali Prime Minister with whom he had unresolvable disagreements.

The sources add that the sergeant heading the Ethiopian troops that took control of Mr. Dheere's compound had prevously been accused, by the Mogadishu's ex-Mayor, of mingling with Mogadishu's tax collection staff, unlawfully arresting and taking into custody one of the staff members.  

As the Ethiopian soldiers are expected to withdraw from Somalia in the next few days, this operation is seen by the Somali public as revenge on Mr. Dheere by the sergeant.\



Ref: Somalia: Ethiopian Troops Invade Former Mogadishu Mayor's Compound 

Read the latest on this story.  Follow the link below

Source: Somalia blogs and news 
Technology  Somali Blogs  http://windowsandlinuxwebhost.blogspot.com/

Sports > http://torontobasketballfans.blogspot.com/

 Additional Somali Sources

Af Soomaali blog | Somalia Blog | YouSomali | Number 1 Somali Blogs |  Mogadishu News | Current Somali News  |  Somali News Articles | United Islamic Courts Blog | Somali News Blog | Somali By Somalis | Somali Cities Blogs | US Agenda In Somalia | Somali Music

Other Somali Sources Amin Arts Discussions | Somali News and Blogs

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Sunday, December 28, 2008

Somali MPs Leave Baidoa on President's Orders

There are confirmed reports that Somali MPs left Baidoa on December 28, 2008 headed back to Galka'yo and Garawe.  The MPs reportedly left on private jet accommodated by Abdullahi Yusuf.

Mr. Yusuf is expected to resign as President in the coming days, and the departure of the members of parliament from Baidoa indicates the weakening state of the TFG Parliament.  

According to eye witnesses at the Badoa airport, some civilian passengers were forcefully taken off the plane that the 14 MPs boarded.  No word on whether the civilian passengers were given back their air ticket fees or not.

In the past few days, Abdullahi Yusuf held meetings in his compound in Baidoa with tens of TFG officials including the departed MPs - all of whom are his clansmen.  

The reports add that the soon-to-resign TFG President is expected to return home to Puntland in the coming weeks leaving all responsibilities of the TFG to the Prime Minister.

Read this Somali News on Somchat - Somali News and Blogs

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Re: Somali TFG to face Hardship in 2009.

There are confirmed reports that Somali MPs left Baidoa on December 28, 2008 headed back to Galka'yo and Garawe.  The MPs reportedly left on private jet accommodated by Abdullahi Yusuf.

Mr. Yusuf is expected to resign as President in the coming days, and the departure of the members of parliament from Baidoa indicates the weakening state of the TFG Parliament.  

According to eye witnesses at the Badoa airport, some civilian passengers were forcefully taken off the plane that the 14 MPs boarded.  No word on whether the civilian passengers were given back their air ticket fees or not.

In the past few days, Abdullahi Yusuf held meetings in his compound in Baidoa with tens of TFG officials including the departed MPs - all of whom are his clansmen.  

The reports add that the soon-to-resign TFG President is expected to return home to Puntland in the coming weeks leaving all responsibilities of the TFG to the Prime Minister.

Read this Somali News on Somchat - Somali News and Blogs

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Second Yemeni ship Freed by Somali pirates on Saturday

Once again, the Somali Pirates released a Yemeni fishing ship they hijacked earlier this month.  The ship MV Falluja reached port of Aden on Saturday after pirates feed it and it is not clear whether or not a ransom was paid.

On December 10th, the Somali pirates took control of two Yemeni ships - the MV Falluja and MV Qana'a - an took 22 fishermen hostage.  While they released MV Falluja, the pirates still hold the other Yemeni ship - MV Qana'a.

The two ships were hijacked while they sailed off the Mait area near the southern port city of Aden.  Before the Somali pirates took over the vessels, several fishermen crew members escaped on a small boat and returned to Aden where they reported the hijacking to the Yemeni Coast Guard Authority.

Earlier in December 2008, Somali pirates freed a Yemeni cargo ship two weeks after they hijacked it in the Arabian Sea and demanded USD 2m in ransom.  However, that ship was released without ransom after negotiations between the pirates and Somali tribal leaders.

Source: 
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Friday, December 26, 2008

Somali TFG to face Hardship in 2009.


Author: Abdifatah Gabeyre
CEO and Editor of Somali Blogs and News, Somchat.com
December 27, 2009

The Somali Transitional Federal Government will see great unfortunate sudden hardship killing any hope of its survival in the coming year where it may seize to exist within a few months into year 2009.  As a result of Ethiopia's departure, change in the U.S. outlook of East Africa's geopolitical war, change in TFG leadership as Abdullahi Yusuf  goes back to Puntland, - a semi-autonomous state known to interfere any Somali political progress, and the popularity of the strengthening Islamic resistance, the TFG is doomed with eventual downfall.

Although it is unlikely, the Somali TFG President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed is expected to give his resignation in front of the parliament in the coming days.  This is to take place during his impeachment hearing for impeding the Somali peace process between TFG and its foe, the Islamic resistance fighters, and to answer questions about the political turmoil he single handedly created for his fellow TFG officials when he unilaterally fired the TFG Prime Minister and appointed a new one in just two days.  The parliament already voted for Sheik Adan Mohamed Madoobe as the acting president, in case Yusuf refused to attend an impeachment session.  Sources close to the President were quoted saying that Abdullahi Yusuf will leave office, a claim which the Somali TFG President clearly denied later.  

Read the full article on Somchat, Somali Blogs and News   Click on the link below


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Hundreds of young Somalis have been arrested in the past few days in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa.

Hundreds of young Somalis have been arrested in the past few days in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa.

A number were questioned and then released but it is thought at least 200 are still being held.

Most of the arrests took place on Tuesday night and Wednesday in the Bole area, the part of the town where most of the Somali community live.

A Somali embassy spokesman said he understood that security was being tightened before a regional summit.

In some cases young men were taken from their homes while others were arrested in the streets.

A spokesman for the Somali embassy in Addis Ababa said he and his colleagues were going around the police stations to find out what was going on.
No explanation

He said that following the initial round-up, police were now working their way through those arrested, checking their papers, fingerprinting them and then, if everything was in order, letting them go.

He said that as of Friday morning he believed that around 200 Somali citizens were still being held.

Asked how the embassy felt about the raids, the spokesman said he could not say they were happy but that this was the prerogative of the Ethiopian government.

He understood it had security concerns in the Bole area which is close to Addis Ababa's international airport, especially in the light of the upcoming African Union summit, and he added that if there was a security threat in Bole, then the embassy itself could be the first target.

Ethiopia's federal police spokesman, Commander Demsash Hailu, has so far not been able to offer any explanation for the arrests.

Read the latest on this story.  Follow the link below
 

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Thursday, December 25, 2008

Somali Pirates detained on the act then released by German navy

Several Somali pirates were caught in the act by German navy in Gulf of Aden.  The pirates were later released by the German government's orders.

An Egyptian cargo ship were the target of the pirates as they were surrounded by the German navy.  The pirates shot and injured a member the crew of the Wadi Al-Arab, the Egyptian cargo ship.

A German navy spokesperson based in Djibouti told the BBC's Greg Morsbach the Somali attackers were disarmed by German sailors and their weapons confiscated.

"We had forces on board the frigate, and they used fast small boats, and together with the helicopter we were able to surround the pirates and disarm them," he said

The Karlscruhe sent a helicopter in support of the cargo ship as it was attacked by the pirates.  Later, the injured crew member was taken on board the Karlscruhe ship  for treatment.
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Ethiopia Refuses to Stay in Somalia

Ethiopia: Somalia pull-out irreversible 
Thu, 25 Dec 2008 13:27:28 GMT 
Ethiopia has refused a plea by the African Union to delay the planned withdrawal of its forces from Somalia until more troops are deployed. 

Ethiopia's decision to withdraw its troops from Somalia was approved by the lower House of People's Representatives and is 'irreversible', said Foreign Ministry spokesman Wahide Belay on Wednesday. 

"The Ethiopian army, that successfully discharged its mission in Somalia, will be withdrawn," he added, stressing his country's sustained support for restoration of peace and stability in Somalia after it pulls its troops out of the Horn of Africa nation by the end of the year. 

The pull-out plan was announced last month amid fears that the war-torn country could dip further into anarchy and bloodshed unless more peacekeepers are deployed. 

"We appeal to Ethiopia to consider phasing out withdrawal, until such time [when] more troops from Nigeria, Uganda and Burundi are deployed in Somalia," the Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the AU said at a meeting in Addis Ababa on Monday. 

It also cited fears over the alarming security situation in Somalia with piracy mounting given the weakening leadership and insurgents ruling nearly all the country except for the capital Mogadishu and Baidoa. 

Some 3,000 Ethiopian troops are currently in Somalia to help 3,400 peacekeepers from Uganda and Burundi that make up the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) to support the embattled Transitional Federal Government (TFG). 

The Ethiopian withdrawal will further challenge the AU which has failed to send a promised 8,000-srong force to Somalia. 

Clashes between government forces backed by foreign militaries-and rebels have left at least 10,000 civilians killed in the last two years and more than a million displaced. 

MRS/RA 


Source: Somalia blogs and news 
Technology  Somali Blogs  http://windowsandlinuxwebhost.blogspot.com/

Sports > http://torontobasketballfans.blogspot.com/

 Additional Somali Sources

Af Soomaali blog | Somalia Blog | YouSomali | Number 1 Somali Blogs |  Mogadishu News | Current Somali News  |  Somali News Articles | United Islamic Courts Blog | Somali News Blog | Somali By Somalis | Somali Cities Blogs | US Agenda In Somalia | Somali Music

Other Somali Sources Amin Arts Discussions | Somali News and Blogs
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Wednesday, December 24, 2008

New Somali Prime Minister resigns


In what appears to be a slap on the face of the now 'certain to resign' Somali warlord President, the Mohamud Mohamed Guled told Somali people he resigned to calm down the rift between the President and his foe legal Prime minister.  The resignation came one week after his assignment to the Prime Minister position by the President unlawfully.

"I decided to resign as premier of Somalia after considering many situations in the country," Mohamud Mohamed Guled told reporters in the capital Mogadishu on Wednesday.

Many Somalis blame many of the uncertainties in Somalia on the President and his loyalists including Mr. Guled himself.  Although it seems unclear what caused him to resign, some reports say Guled decided to step down 'in a political effort to end the arguments among top leaders'.

The rift was recently escalated when on December 16, the Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed unilaterally fired Prime Minister Nur Hassan Hussein saying the Prime Minister 'failed to bring peace and security' to the nation. A day later,  he appointed ex-interior minister Mohamud Mohamed Guled as the new premier.

The dismissal of the Somali Prime Minister caused outrage among Somali MPs, as they described the move as unconstitutional. They accused the president of being a 'dictator' and instead voted voted for Hussein to continue working as lawful prime minister.

So far, Abdullahi Yusuf, the Somali President is keeping quiet about the resignation of his loyal Prime Minister.  Some suspect he is no longer interested in being a part of the TFG and that he plans to resign himself soon.  According to PressTv.ir, a presidential aide said that Yusuf has called for a special parliamentary session on Saturday and that it is possible he may resign.

The prospect of Yusuf's resignation grew stronger, when the US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Jendayi Frazer, mounted Washington's pressure on the Somali president calling on him to leave office.

 


 
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Monday, December 22, 2008

IGAD Seizes to Support Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf, Agrees Sanctions On The Warlord

Abdullahi Yusuf is feeling pressure from his supporting allies, the sort of pressure that is overdue.

Somalia's President Abdullahi Yusuf
Abdullahi Yusuf, the sitting Somali TFG President is in hot water feeling pressure from all sides of his support including neighbor countries suchas Kenya, EThiopia as well as IGAD.  Ministers of the Inter Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) have agreed to impose sanctions against Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf. 

Abdullahi Yusuf, charged with ordering his clan's gunmen to illegally arrest some legal authorities of the TFG government including the Chairman of the Supreme Court Yusuf Ali Haruun, illegally armed his clan with weapons belonging to the country's transitional government and replaced premier Nur Hassan Hussein with his appointee Mohamud Mohamed Guled, reportedly violating the constitution is now under scrutiny by the same allied bodies who first put him on charge of his Tigres backed government. 

IGAD, the group of governments acting as the regional body overlooking the Somali peace process, technically the group assisting Ethiopia's occupation and American geopolitical influence, are finally giving up on Mr. Yusuf.  IGAD condemns the warlord's actions in calling the firing of the current Prime Minister and assigning a new one that he can control.

IGAD announced their decision that they agree with the Kenyan government for imposing sanctions on Abdullahi Yusuf as earlier this week, Kenya said it could impose a travel ban and asset freeze on the Somali president and his family.  

As well as IGAD, US and the African Union condemn Mr. Yusuf's firing of the Prime Minister and they do not recognize the new appointed Prime minister.  
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Sunday, December 21, 2008

China joins war on Somali pirates

China plans to send three warships to join Iran and the European Union in large-scale anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden. 

The Chinese Foreign Ministry said Sunday that two navy destroyers and a support vessel are slated to depart for the waters offshore Somalia to join the international fight against pirates attacking vessels in the Gulf of Aden. 

"Their major task is to protect the safety of Chinese ships and crew on board as well as ships carrying humanitarian relief material for the international organizations, such as the United Nations' World Food Program," Liu said. 

A UN resolution on Dec. 16, gave the green light to governments to pursue the armed bandits into inland Somalia in the wake of increased pirate attacks along Somalia's Indian Ocean coast, as well as in the Gulf of Aden. 

Chinese plans to join the fight comes only one day after an Iranian warship sailed off to join vessels from the EU, US, India, Russia, Malaysia and others to battle piracy and create a defensive front in the key shipping-lanes. 

The dispatch comes after Somali raiders hijacked the Iranian-chartered cargo ship, Delight, off the coast of Yemen in November. The Hong Kong-registered ship with 25 crew aboard was loaded with 36,000 tons of wheat bound for the Islamic Republic. 

In an earlier move on August 21, some 40 pirates armed with AK-47s and rocket-propelled grenades attacked Iran's Diyanat, shortly after the merchant ship passed the Horn of Africa. 

The Gulf of Aden --which links the Indian Ocean with the Suez Canal and the Mediterranean Sea-is the quickest transit point for more than 20,000 ships going from Asia to Europe and the Americas every year. 

According to the International Maritime Bureau, pirates have attacked almost 100 vessels in the waters leading to and from the Suez Canal this year, and earned tens of millions of dollars in ransom. 

In a report published on Dec. 15, the Time reasoned that the West's age-old policy of marginalizing Somalia's endemic poverty is the main reason behind the explosion of piracy off Somalia's coast. 

"We haven't been as involved in Somalia as we should have been …This is the consequence," the report quoted Britain's Defense Secretary John Hutton as saying. 

SBB/DT 
 
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Friday, December 19, 2008

Somali warlord President Soon to be Fired!

PRESSTV

The Somali parliament has warned that it would remove President Abdullahi Yusuf should he fail to appear before lawmakers within 14 days. 

The majority of legislators voted on Friday in favor of appointing Parliament Speaker Sheik Adan Mohamed Madoobe as the acting president, in case Yusuf refused to attend an impeachment session, A Press TV correspondent reported. 

The lawmakers issued a two-week ultimatum to the president to appear in parliament and defend himself against the charges, or face arrest. 

The announcement comes a day after Yusuf called the impeachment move an illegal attempt to remove him from power. 

The Somali President came under fire over the weekend for defying the parliament in sacking Prime Minister Nur "Adde" Hassan Hussein. On Tuesday, Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed appointed Mohamud Mohamed Guled as the new prime minister. 

Following the appointment, the parliament called for Yusuf's impeachment charging that he has violated 14 articles of Somalia's transitional charter. 


 
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GMail, The Extraordinary Email App! Now has Video and Voice Chat

I gotta tell you, this GMail keeps on getting better.  Email, chat, SMS, Video, Voice, VoiceMail, all on the same web browser window!  No single program ever put together those features on the same roof!  Let alone have them all work on the same web browser windows, - a tough task on its own.

GMail as Online Storage, the History

Most of us were happy with the 2GB hard disk space Google gave us way back, a few years back, and called it GMail.  At the time, before GMail arrived, Microsoft's Hotmail and Yahoo covered the email needs of millions of users with mere 2MB online disk space.  Instantly, GMail was a hit, because it provided 1000 times the space its competitors were giving.  It meant no deleting emails to empty inboxes so that you may receive new ones.  It also meant no more forcefully checking your email every few days so Hotmail doesn't close the account -something it still does.  Most of all, it meant virtually unlimited space for all of your emails, pictures, word and pdf documents, your entire address book.  That space now over 7 GB and will be 10 GB soon.

Soon after, GMail became the wanted email to have!  At some point, it was cooler to own a GMail account than to have your own domain name email.  So, to slow down the influx of registrants, GMail's new registrations got restricted to by-invitation-only.

Most users heard about GMail from friends, from there on, and they either were invited to it, or were left out waiting for the day it got public.  Well, it got public and now, to keep the excitement, the features of this email program that runs on the fastest servers in the world, the Google servers, keep getting bigger and better.

Speaking about features, what does GMail's competitors have for their users?  Start with Hotmail, the last I remember, it is just plain old email.  Nothing much else.  Yes it can recognize photos and will put them in a fancy collection.  But, the biggest thing you can do is, well, email.  Send and receive emails, reply to them etc.


GMail as Instant Messenger on Web Browser

Well, GMail on the other hand, the regular stuff other emails allow you to do, send email, receive email, reply, delete, store etch, you can do them better here.  I am not here to discuss those, because they're so common.  But you can chat inside the GMail.  That is right, if you see a friend online via your GMail, while you type your email, just click on their name and a little chat window - pretty on new browsers, shows up on both ends.  You just start talking to your dear friend.  Why is this feature so special when MSN Messenger does the trick?

Well my friend, how often do you go to a friend's house and notice their computer does not have MSN Messenger installed? But they do have Internet.  So you check your email. And there is no other means to talk to your contacts, right?

Well with Gmail you can.  Right inside the GMail itself.

I thought I had said enough about the exciting features of GMail.  Then you look and see its got other cool features, with regards to communication.

GMail as free SMS Tool

Communication is the primary focus for GMail.  I reported the other day that GMail now allows sending SMS to all american phone numbers with no charge to you!  If you're the one sending!  The receiver gets charged local incoming SMS fees depending on their plan.

As that was not enough, GMail takes communication further to the next level!

GMAIL Voice and Video Chat

Now, out of the GMail develop laps, 'since sometimes reading "lol" doesn't deliver the same punch as actually hearing your friend laugh at your jokes, you can now use voice and video capabilities in your Gmail chat. From within Gmail, you can have an actual conversation with someone (seriously, out loud), or even chat face to face over video.'   This is a quote straight from GMail help.

This feature was first introduced back in November 11, 2008.  Hearing this for the first time, I feel so out dated.  But because the programs of GMail are working day and night, even GMail user experts need time to catch up to them. being able to switch from email to chat, to video chat, to sending SMS to your friends, all within the same browser window, well that is productivity in its extreme.

Reference:

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Friday, December 12, 2008

Friends Offline? Send them SMS via GML

Your Gmail account is no longer just your chat, email and storage tool.  It is now your SMS tool, soon to come. 

"Now you can keep the conversations going with a new Labs feature that lets you send SMS text messages right from Gmail." says Gmail Leo Dirac, Product Manager of Gmail.

Your Gmail account can now send Simple Text Messages to all your friends in the United States.  As the Gmail team work on this feature and perfect it in the near future, we can expect free SMS send from Gmail accounts all over the world.  Currently, you can send an SMS to U.S. Phone numbers but the good thing is, you can do this from anywhere in the world.

That means, if you are in Africa and your friend is in the U.S., you can shoot them SMS straight to their phone and they can reply back to your GMail chat just like Instant Messaging.  The down side is that the receiver may or may not be charged for the incoming SMS depending on their plan with their respective provider.

GMail users may be proud of GMail for its storage and search efficiency, but trust me, they'll love it for this one!



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Ethiopian troops will Leave after Uganda and Burundian troops leave

Not only are the Ethiopian troops leaving Somalia in the near future, but they'll also take the Ugandans and Brundis with them.

The Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi reportedly told his parliament that the AU troops of Burundi and Uganda requested of him to help them vacate as the fear for their safety when the Ethiopians leave.  Meles said that is the primary reason delaying his widely anticipated departure from the neighboring country.

The news of their intent to leave is shocking to even the resistance in Somalia.  Further more, no time table of their departure is available making it difficult for Somalis to believe in it as more than just a simple trickery by Meles Zenawi.

The AU force currently in Mogadishu were always expected to be in Somalia by the EU, UN, and their primary financier the U.S.  

According to Meles Zenawi, the Ugandan and Burundian forces already made it clear to him that they are no longer interested in staying in Somalia and that they requested support in ensuring safe passage for them.


Ethiopian troops in Somalia
 At this time, we are looking into every aspect of our withdrawal, the main issue now is to ensure that Ugandan and Burundian peacekeepers pull out safe and sound 
Meles Zenawi
Despite his claims, neither country has given any public indication that it wants to withdraw its troops from the beleaguered Amisom force.

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The question is, how long is Zenawi planning on staying back in Somalia.  The answer, he said the Ethiopians would leave as soon as the AU troops leave.

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Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed Returns to Mogadishu after two year ban

One of Somalia's main Muslim leaders has returned to Mogadishu, the Somali capital, two years after being driven from power.

Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed's Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) was ousted by the Ethiopian-backed interim government fully backed by the U.S. air force.  It was back late in 2006 when the Ethiopian neighbor of Somalia invaded the country with their war-planes supported by U.S. satellites. 

The Sheikh's arrival follows a deal, between the Ethiopian backed weak TFG government and the and his part of United Islamic Courts (UIC) which he now leads, which should see Ethiopia withdraw its forces later this month.

Despite the calm shown so far by the Al-shabab rival group who control major parts of Somalia now, it is not clear how they would react to his arrival as they have not signed on to the peace deal.  Further, Al-shabab's UIC ally and the leader of the Asmara wing the Islamic Courts accused Sheikh Sharif of betrayal for taking the enemy's side on the Somalia conflict.

Sheikh Sharif's arrival takes place at a time when the capital city is the base of constant battles between the weak Somali government and their Ethiopian enforcers and Islamic and nationalist forces.

Source: Somalia blogs and news 
Technology  Somali Blogs  http://windowsandlinuxwebhost.blogspot.com/

Sports > http://torontobasketballfans.blogspot.com/

 Additional Somali Sources

Af Soomaali blog | Somalia Blog | YouSomali | Number 1 Somali Blogs |  Mogadishu News | Current Somali News  |  Somali News Articles | United Islamic Courts Blog | Somali News Blog | Somali By Somalis | Somali Cities Blogs | US Agenda In Somalia | Somali Music

Other Somali Sources Amin Arts Discussions | Somali News and Blogs


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Al-shabab continue to capture Somali towns

On Dec 9, 2008, the islamic fighters of Al-shabab took control of Baledhawo, a town in the Gedo region, without any resistance from the Somali transitional Government representative security forces who failed secure the town.

After capturing the town, Al-shabab army officials, as usual, told town's residents to stay calm and continue to do their business.  Furthermore, the residents were warned about forbidden activities such as selling or using drugs, illegal check points, or opening any cinemas.

Baledhawo were recently overtaken by members of the Col. Barre Hiiraale, a TFG enforcer, who were themselves chased out by Al-shabab from Kismayo.

In the Gedo region, the Al-shabab mujahidiin fighters captured Garbaharey, Bardhere and now Baledhawo and they now turn their forces towards Luuq and Doolow.


Source: Somalia blogs and news 
Technology  Somali Blogs  http://windowsandlinuxwebhost.blogspot.com/

Sports > http://torontobasketballfans.blogspot.com/

 Additional Somali Sources

Af Soomaali blog | Somalia Blog | YouSomali | Number 1 Somali Blogs |  Mogadishu News | Current Somali News  |  Somali News Articles | United Islamic Courts Blog | Somali News Blog | Somali By Somalis | Somali Cities Blogs | US Agenda In Somalia | Somali Music

Other Somali Sources Amin Arts Discussions | Somali News and Blogs


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Somali Pirates Attacked on Ship!

The MV Faina (10 Nov 2008)
The MV Faina is currently anchored off the pirate stronghold of Harardhere

Reports surfaced that the Somali pirates on board the hijacked Ukrainian cargo ship thwarted a failed revolt by the crew.  AFP news agency said an unnamed pirated told them of the incident quoting him saying "they tried to harm" two of the captors.

The Ukrainian cargo ship is carrying 33 tanks and other weaponry and was seized about two months ago.

"Some crew members on the Ukrainian ship are misbehaving," the pirate said.

No official word from the Ukrainian foreign ministry as their spokesman said they had not received any information of the incident.

"They tried to harm two of our gunmen late Monday. This is unacceptable, they risk serious punitive measures. Somalis know how to live and how to die at the same time, but the Ukrainians' attempt to take violent action is misguided", said the pirates.

The pirates were resting chewing jaat when they were taken by surprise when some members of the crew suddenly attacked them taking out their frustration on the captors.

"Maybe some of the crew are frustrated and we are feeling the same but our boys never opted for violence, this was a provocation," he told AFP by telephone.

Another report of the incident, by Russian Ren TV, quoted one of the pirates as saying that the crew responsible would be "seriously punished".

French naval officers escort cargo ships
The EU is to place armed guards on vulnerable ships in the Gulf of Aden

Gunmen seized the Kenya-bound MV Faina, carrying 33 tanks, grenade launchers and ammunition, on 24 September.

The ship, which is currently anchored off the pirate stronghold of Harardhere, has a mostly Ukrainian crew of 21.

Pirates had initially demanded a ransom of $20m (£13.5m).

In November, a Kenyan maritime official confirmed that a deal had been struck between the ship's owner and the pirates, and that the two sides were discussing the ship's release.

Details of the agreement have not been revealed.


Sports > http://torontobasketballfans.blogspot.com/

 Additional Somali Sources

Af Soomaali blog | Somalia Blog | YouSomali | Number 1 Somali Blogs |  Mogadishu News | Current Somali News  |  Somali News Articles | United Islamic Courts Blog | Somali News Blog | Somali By Somalis | Somali Cities Blogs | US Agenda In Somalia | Somali Music

Other Somali Sources Amin Arts Discussions | Somali News and Blogs 

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Friday, December 5, 2008

Too Precious, too Expensive! on Auction

LONDON: The Wittelsbach Diamond, a 17th century 35.56 carat jewel valued at $13.1 million, is to be auctioned at Christie's in London on December 10.
 

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Re: Somali Pirates Free Indian crew members on Stolt Valor who return home

PILGRIMAGE PANORAMA: Milling crowds of devotees at Makkah's Grand Mosque on Friday during the annual Haj pilgrimage. The Grand Mosque houses the Kaaba, Islam's holiest site. It stands in the heart of the mosque and contains the holy Black Stone which is believed to be the only piece remaining from an altar built by Abraham.

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Tuesday, November 25, 2008

British taxpayer funds Somali police force for regime accused of war crimes(Rob Crilly in Nairobi )

Millions of pounds of British taxpayers' money is being used to support a government in Somalia accused of human rights abuses and war crimes. The money is supposed to be used to strengthen security and democracy, but The Times has learnt that it is financing a police force filled with militiamen and led by one of the country's most notorious warlord, Abdi Hasan Awale Qaybdib. At various times he has fought US forces or been given American money to fight Islamic extremists. Now he is being funded to keep the peace.

Donors privately admit that they cannot control where their money is going but say that there is no alternative. "An element of a leap of faith is required," one Western diplomat said. "Otherwise we have to walk away." Somalia's interim Government took control of Mogadishu in December 2006 when Ethiopian troops defeated the forces of the Islamic Courts Union, which had held most of southern and central Somalia for six months. Since then the fragile regime has fought Islamist insurgents and clan gunmen, and an estimated one million people have fled Mogadishu.

The Government survives on foreign donations, channelled through the UN Development Programme. The British Department for International Development (DfID) is the second-largest donor – behind the European Commission – to UN programmes supporting the Transitional Federal Government, having committed £11 million to date.

More than £10 million, including £2.5 million of British money, is being used to refurbish government buildings, cover running costs and provide technical assistance. Members of the Somali parliament, many of whom earned their seats through military muscle, receive a monthly stipend of £600. But the biggest chunk of donor cash – some £15 million, including £3.2 million from the DfID – is being spent on rule-of-law programmes. This is meant for the police as salaries and to buy radios and vehicles.

The police are controlled by Brigadier-General Qaybdib, whose militias once fought US and UN forces in Mogadishu. In 1993 his capture by US special forces launched the events that led up to the so-called First Battle of Mogadishu and was portrayed in the film Black Hawk Down. Since then, however, he has been seen as an ally in the War on Terror and admits receiving thousands of dollars from the US to fight Islamic insurgents in Mogadishu during 2006. He is now police commissioner and one of several warlords who hold positions within the transitional Government or its security arms.

UN monitors say that police officers, far from keeping solely to peace duties, have fought alongside Ethiopian troops and have been accused of looting, firing indiscriminately into crowds, and torture. A report published last week by the UN Monitoring Group on Somalia cited numerous allegations that the police had recruited clan militias so that they could collect salaries provided by international donors.
The money for police wages, thought to run into hundreds of thousands of pounds, was given in a lump sum to Brigadier-General Qaybdib and his deputies last year after he insisted that a UN proposal to pay officers directly undermined his authority. No money has been paid this year.

The report also gives details of three occasions when police took part in military engagements, and claims that officers are collecting fees and "taxes" at roadblocks. In some cases, the report says, they have sold weapons at Mogadishu's main arms market. Other UN reports detail allegations of torture, indiscriminate shooting of civilians and harassment of journalists. In an interview with The Times, Brigadier-General Qaybdib denied that his officers had been involved. "I am not a warlord, although I have had my own militia. I did fight UN forces but that was only because my clan was being treated unfairly."

A spokeswoman for the DfID said officials were concerned by reports of mismanagement. But she added it was up to Somalis to decide who should lead their police and that British money was only given to agencies with robust accounting mechanisms. "We can only work within the existing conditions in Somalia, far from ideal as these may be."

  

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Af Soomaali blog | Somalia Blog | YouSomali | Number 1 Somali Blogs |  Mogadishu News | Current Somali News  |  Somali News Articles | United Islamic Courts Blog | Somali News Blog | Somali By Somalis | Somali Cities Blogs | US Agenda In Somalia | Somali Music

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