Somalia Jihad Update, and possible corroboration of this story. “Islamists, ‘foreign fighters’ make gains in Mogadishu,” from Garowe Online, May 11:
MOGADISHU, Somalia May 11 (Garowe Online) – Islamist hardliners led by the notorious Al Shabaab militants in the Somali capital Mogadishu have made gains during four days of fighting where upwards of 50 people have been killed, Radio Garowe reports.
The fighting was concentrated along Industry Road and 30th Avenue in Mogadishu, with battles and explosions causing much death and destruction in Yaaqshiid, Wardhigley and Hodan districts.
At least 15 people were killed when a shell hit a mosque in Wardhigley district, witnesses said. Sheikh Abdirahman, who was the mosque leader for more than 30 years, was killed in the explosion alongside other civilians.
Mogadishu residents reported that Islamic Courts Union (ICU) fighters, who are seen as the pro-government Islamist militia, lost territory during Sunday’s fierce street battles.
The ICU used to be the bad guys, but the present situation reflects the government’s concessions to sharia law, which, as with the case of Pakistan, has only validated a link between political legitimacy and fidelity to sharia. Setting that precedent thrusts into politics a perpetual source of tension over how much sharia is “enough” to ensure the government’s survival, with the obvious incentive to err on the side of more — which translates into fewer rights and civil liberties, especially for women, religious minorities, and those whose outward display of piety doesn’t pass muster.
Sheikh Hassan Mahdi, a senior member of Hizbul Islam faction, said Al Shabaab and Hizbul Islam fighters jointly captured the ex-Defense Ministry building, Stadium Mogadishu and Wardhigley police station from ICU militias, who were forced to flee.
Further, the Islamist hardliners now control both Industry Road and 30th Avenue, two important roads in Mogadishu.
‘Ties to Al Qaeda’
Somali Security Minister Omar Hashi told reporters that foreigners were fighting alongside Al Shabaab guerrillas in Mogadishu.
“The government will fight against any group that opposes peace”¦Foreigners are fighting for Al Shabaab,” the Security Minister alleged….