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Somalia’s Islamists seize tanks and battlewagons in a fresh fighting

Aweys Osman Yusuf
Mogadishu 12, Nov.06 ( Sh.M.Network) Fierce fighting that taken place at Bandiradley between the Union of Islamic Courts fighters and Abdi Awale Qeybdid’s militias backed by Puntland troops has lasted hours after Islamic fighters moved closer to Galkayo where Qeybdid’s militiamen were based.

The Islamic Courts spokesperson for Somalia’s central provinces Mohamood Mohammed Jimaale known as Agoweyne has told Shabelle Radio in Mogadishu by telephone that the Islamist fighters have forced Qeydid’s militiamen backed by Puntalnd and Ethiopian forces out of Bandiradley and villages close to Galkayo in Mudug province.

“We have seized villages like Bandiradley, Sadah-hagle, Dagaari and Halaal which 20 km away from Galkayo”, stated Agoweyne.
The Courts have claimed they captured 22 militiamen, 5 vehicles mounted with anti-aircraft guns and two tanks from Abdi Awale Qeybdid, a warlord who was evicted from the capital Mogadishu early June this year after deadly skirmishes that engulfed the lives of hundreds.

The Islamic Courts have admitted they have lost two of their fighters in this latest fight.

Neither Puntland administration nor Abdi Qeybdid was available for comments.

The semiautonomous regional government of Puntalnd administration has previously pledged it would crash the Islamic movement if it was invaded, warning an Islamic Court recently set up in north Galkayo under its administration to shut down or would be crashed and that its founders would either be killed or expelled from Puntland administered areas.

Somalia was in the grip of tribal warlords and militias for the past fifteen years, tormenting the civilian population.

http://www.shabelle.net/news/ne1696.htm

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To sit down with these men and deal with them as the representatives of an enlightened and civilized people is to deride ones own dignity and to invite the disaster of their treachery - General Matthew Ridgway

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Somalia: Puntland resists Islamic Courts
Mohamed Abdi Farah

(SomaliNet) The authorities of semi-autonomous region of Puntland in northeast Somalia said on Sunday that their troops have repelled an attack launched by Islamic Courts and recaptured positions.

Adde Muse Hersi, the president of Puntland state accompanied by large number of troops reached Galkaayo city to prevent the advancing Islamic Courts.

Abdirahman Bangax, Puntland minister of information speaking with the reporters accused the Islamists of attacking places stationed by their troops.

"Our forces drove Islamic militants back to their barracks and retook positions," he said.

Meanwhile, there have been preparations of demonstrations in Garowe, Bosaso and Galkaayo of Puntland relating to the strategy of the defending Puntland regions.

The most outspoken matter in Puntland regions is the war tension looming in Mudug region, central Somalia between Puntland and Islamic Courts.
http://somalinet.com/news/world/Somalia/4841

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Somalia: Puntland President Deploys 50 Battlewagons in Galkayo to Avert Islamist Fighters

weys Osman Yusuf
Mogadishu

The general situation in Bandiradley near Galkayo in central Somalia is calm on Monday after a fierce fighting between the Islamic Courts fighters and warlord Abdi Qeybdid's militias allegedly backed by Ethiopians and forces of Somalia's regional government of Puntland has taken place.

Semiautonomous administration of Puntland claimed it had recaptured the villages the Islamists seized in yesterday's heavy gunfight.

The regional government President Adde Musa Hirse accompanied by 50 battlewagons has reportedly set out to Bandiradley where the Union of Islamic Courts fighters are in control now.

Residents in Galkayo show concerns over the large numbers of military maneuver as Gen. Adde Musa was reported sketching to position the forces in and around Glakayo to defend the town against Islamic invasion.
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Islamic Courts spokesperson for central provinces Mohomood Mohammed Jim'ale Agowene has told Shabelle Radio in Mogadishu that Qeybdid's militias have escaped to Lanwaley village near the Ethiopian border.

Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed, the Islamic Courts executive council leader, has shouted victory on the Islamic Courts side in the skirmishes in Bandiradley with Qeybdid's militias Sunday while addressing to reporters in Mogadishu's main seaport as the Somali pirates, who hijacked an Emirates cargo ship, were exposed to journalists after they were caught around Haradhere offshore in central Somalia where they had the hijacked vessel.

President Musa urged elders and local militias to defend Galkayo against Islamists.