http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/026070.php
(GAROWE ONLINE, May 11, 2009)
May 11, 2009
“Somali jihadist group makes gains in Mogadishu with help of “foreign fighters””
MOGADISHU, Somalia May 11 (Garowe Online) -
SNIPPET: “Sheikh Hassan Mahdi, a senior member of Hizbul Islam faction, said Al Shabaab and Hizbul Islam fighters jointly captured the ex-Defense Ministry building, Stadium Mogadishu and Wardhigley police station from ICU militias, who were forced to flee.”
SNIPPET: “Further, the Islamist hardliners now control both Industry Road and 30th Avenue, two important roads in Mogadishu.
‘Ties to Al Qaeda’
Somali Security Minister Omar Hashi told reporters that foreigners were fighting alongside Al Shabaab guerrillas in Mogadishu.
“The government will fight against any group that opposes peace…Foreigners are fighting for Al Shabaab,” the Security Minister alleged....”
Just a tad bit off (thread) topic:
Note: The following post is a quote:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2248686/posts
Somali pirates guided by London intelligence team
Guardian News and Media Limited ^ | Monday 11 May 2009 12.59 BST | Giles Tremlett
Posted on May 11, 2009 12:02:25 PM PDT by gandalftb
The Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean are directed to their targets by a “consultant” team in London, according to European military intelligence.
Pirate groups have “well-placed informers” in London who are in regular contact with control centres in Somalia where decisions on which vessels to attack are made. These London-based “consultants” help the pirates select targets, providing information on the ships’ cargoes and courses.
In at least one case the pirates have remained in contact with their London informants from the hijacked ship, according to one targeted shipping company.
The pirates’ information network extends to Yemen, Dubai and the Suez canal.
This enables the more organised pirate groups to study their targets in advance, even spending several days training teams for specific hijacks. Senior pirates then join the vessel once it has been sailed close to Somalia.
Captains of attacked ships have found that pirates know everything from the layout of the vessel to its ports of call. Vessels targeted as a result of this kind of intelligence included the Greek cargo ship Titan, the Turkish merchant ship Karagol and the Spanish trawler Felipe Ruano.
In each case, says the document, the pirates had full knowledge of the cargo, nationality and course of the vessel.
The national flag of a ship is also taken into account when choosing a target, with British vessels being increasingly avoided, according to the report.
European countries have set up Operation Atalanta to co-ordinate their military efforts in the area.
(Excerpt) Read more at guardian.co.uk ...