Gov't imposes air, sea blockade in insurgent-run south-central Somalia

MOGADISHU, May 25 (Xinhua) -- The Somali transitional government on Monday announced the imposition of an immediate blockade on airports and seaports in insurgent-run areas in the south and center of the war-torn east African nation. Following a closed-doors meeting in Mogadishu, Somali cabinet ministers said the sanctions which do not include humanitarian flights and shipments, were aimed at curbing the flow of arms and foreign fighters into the country. "Starting from today (May 25) sea ports and airports not under the government's control will be closed to any flights or shipments except for humanitarian purposes," Farhan Ali Mohamoud, the Information Minister, told reports in Mogadishu. Mohamoud said the cabinet endorsed the decision of the east African bloc, the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), to impose a no-fly-zone and blockade on south-central Somali airports and seaports run by the hardline Islamist movement of Al-Shabaab. The Al-Shabaab group, listed by the U.S. as a terror organization, controls most of south-central Somalia where the two main ports in Kismayu and Marka and a number of airstrips are located. ..more..http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-05/26/content_11434440.htm