Somali National Security Minister Reaches Beletweyne,Government says it crushed rebels

Beled Weyne, Somalia (tf.sf) - The National Security Minister of Somalia’s Transitional Federal Government (TFG) Col. Omar Haashi Aadan has reached Beletweye, a key strategic city in central Somalia that links the country’s southern regions to northern regions. The Minister was accompanied by a large number of heavily armed troops.
The Minister who was recently staying in the town of Feer-Feer was escorted from Feer-Feer by the Governor of Hiiraan region Mr. Sheik Abdirahman Maow and other members of his administration.
Also accompanying the Minister were the former Governor of the Region Mr.Yuusuf Ahmed Hagar (Dabageed) and former Somalia Ambassador to Ethiopia Mr. Abdikariim Faarah Laqanyo.
The Minister and his delegation are staying in Madina hotel in the city and they will hold meetings with community leaders of the region such as elders, religious leaders, and others.
The Minister’s visit coincides with recent activities by Islamic insurgent groups controlling several regions in the south which some analysts interpret as possible preparations for an attack on the city.
Moreover, Islamic insurgents have taken control of some parts of the region leading to speculations that the city of Beletweyne may be the next target of attack.

Government says it crushed rebels

Information minister Farhan Ali Mohamoud

Somali government said Wednesday it ha crushed Islamist rebels in the fighting has been continuing in the capital for the last three weeks. Fierce fighting between government soldiers and Islamist insurgents has killed at least 25 people and wounded more than 70 people, mostly civilians, on Tuesday and Wednesday’s alone. The information minister of the Somali government, Farhan Ali Mohamoud, held a press conference in Mogadishu and said that the government soldiers gained victory over the fighting in the capital and captured two police stations from the rebel forces. The minister said Hisbul Islam al Shabaab rebels took off their clothes and ran away to far regions in the country and that some of them were planning to surrender.