From: Biniam Haile \(SWE\) (eritrea.lave@comhem.se)
Date: Thu Jul 02 2009 - 10:23:54 EDT
Somalia:Commander defects to Islamist rebels
BELEDWWEYNE (Mareeg)-Sheik Ibrahim Sheik Yusuf, the commander of the
security forces of the Islamic Courts Union that supports the government
in Beledweyne has reportedly defected to Hisbul Islam rebel group,
officials said on Thursday.
Witnesses said the commander with two vehicles and fifty soldiers from
the Islamic Courts Union defected to Hisbul Islam and al Shabaab groups
in the west part of Beledweyne town in Hiraan region in central Somalia.
The move comes as there has been dispute between the leaders of the pro
government Islamic Courts Union about the troop movement by the
Ethiopian soldiers in Hiraan region in central Somalia.
Sheik Ibrahim told reporters that he left the administration of the pro
government Islamic Courts Union and accused the leadership of being
campaigning of Ethiopian troops to re-enter in the region.
Defections are normal among the Somali factions fighting for the
leadership of the country. The pro government Islamic Courts Union
controls the main part of Beledweyne and the allied Hisbul Islam and al
Shabaab groups control the west par of the town.
By Ahmednor Mohamed Farah
gentlemannor@gmail.com
http://www.mareeg.com/fidsan.php?sid=12744
<http://www.mareeg.com/fidsan.php?sid=12744&tirsan=3> &tirsan=3
----[This List to be used for Eritrea Related News Only]----