From: Biniam Haile \(SWE\) (eritrea.lave@comhem.se)
Date: Thu Jun 11 2009 - 08:34:43 EDT
30 soldiers defect from Somalia government
10 Jun 10, 2009 - 2:52:15 PM
MOGADISHU, Somalia June 10 (Garowe Online) - At least 30 soldiers have
defected from Somalia's interim government and joined the rebel group
Hizbul Islam, Radio Garowe reports.
Ahmed "Lashin" Sheikh Muhiyadin, commander of the defecting soldiers,
told reporters in the capital Mogadishu Wednesday that the soldiers were
part of the Islamic Courts Union (ICU) militia who joined the government
when Sheikh Sharif Ahmed became Somali President in January.
He showed reporters the soldiers and two armed trucks at the Yaaqshiid
police station in northern Mogadishu.
A military source who spoke on the condition of anonymity said that they
used to be stationed near El Ma'an harbor, where their mission was to
"prevent opposition reinforcements" during combat.
Somali government officials have not spoken about the defecting
soldiers, but Hizbul Islam is one of two major rebel factions
spearheading a fierce guerrilla war against President Sheikh Sharif's
interim government.
Source: Garowe Online
<http://www.garowe.com/> http://www.garowe.com/
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