11 People Killed in Fighting in Central Somalia
Apr 21, 2010
Story Highlights
Heavy fighting in Somalia kills 11
Al-Shabaab loses strategically important town
At least 11 people have been killed and 25 others were injured in heavy fighting between the politically moderate Ahlu Sunna Waljamaca Islamists and hard-line Al-Shabaab in central Somalia. Al-Shabaab lost a strategically important town as a result of the fighting.
The conflict lasted more than 12 hours, raged through the streets of Galad in the Galgaduud region. Al-Shabaab eventually withdrew, leaving eight of their dead fighters behind.
"The fighting was fierce, it has now stopped and Ahlu Sunna seized the town," Abdullahi Maalin, a resident of Galad, told Tiziano by phone.
"I have seen eight dead Al-Shabaab with black banners on their heads and three Ahlu Sunna fighters on the streets." He added, "the streets were gruesome."
Reports received by Tiziano say that residents fought alongside Ahlu Sunna against Al-Shabaab, who practice strict Wahabi sharia law that is repressive to moderate Somalis.
Tension is still high in the town as hundreds of residents have fled to the bush.
Al-Shabaab has recently been facing resistance from residents in towns in the Galgaduud region and the neighboring middle Shabelle in response to repressive laws and the practice of beheading and court-ordered amputations.
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=f4127c7d-f3f4-449e-b675-893153325983)
Tags:
Ahlu Sunna, Al-Shabaab, Galgaduud, Islamism, Mogadishu, Shabelle, Sharia, Somalia
Add your comment