Somali Islamists to rule by sharia law in Baidoa

BAIDOA, Somalia (Reuters) - Somalia's hardline Islamist insurgent group al Shabaab said on Tuesday it had introduced sharia law in Baidoa, a day after taking the town that had been a government stronghold and seat of parliament.
Fighters from al Shabaab, which is on Washington's list of terrorist groups, captured Baidoa on Monday after the withdrawal of Ethiopian troops who had been supporting the government.
They quickly took the airport, parliament building and president's home, and called locals to a meeting at a football stadium on Tuesday to explain how they would govern.more..http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE50Q23Y20090127?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews

Somali MPs expand parliament as insurgents seize town (Roundup)
Nairobi/Mogadishu - Somali members of parliament on Monday voted to double the number of seats in parliament from 275 to include moderate Islamists and civil society as insurgents seized one of the last government strongholds. The Islamist Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia (ARS) will have 200 seats, while 75 members of civil society will take up the rest of the new seats. The MPs, meeting in neighbouring Djibouti due to insecurity in Somalia, are also to vote on whether to delay presidential elections due for the end of January. ARS leader Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed is running for the presidency, along with current Prime Minister Nur Hassan Hussein.more..http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/africa/news/article_1455890.php/Somali_MPs_expand_parliament_as_insurgents_seize_town__Roundup__