Army commander says insurgents have taken Beletwein

[General Duke]

Somalia: Army commander says insurgents have taken Beletwein

9 Sep 9, 2009 - 7:08:43 AM

 

BELETWEIN, Somalia Sep 9 (Garowe Online) - An army commander in Somalia has said that the interim government has lost control of a strategic town in the central regions to insurgents, Radio Garowe reports.

 

Gen. Muktar Hussein Afrah, who commanded Somali government forces in Beletwein, capital of Hiran region, told reporters Wednesday that the town is under the control of Al Shabaab and Sheikh Abdirahman Ibrahim Ma'ow, Hiran's Islamist governor who recently withdrew support to the Somali government.

 

"The governor [Ma'ow] has joined Al Shabaab and we have left the town," Gen. Afrah said.

 

Currently, Al Shabaab insurgents control the western neighborhoods of Beletwein while the town's eastern section is empty of soldiers or insurgents.

 

The army commander defended the decision to withdraw government forces from Beletwein, saying that he listened to the advice of community leaders and aims to protect the public from continued violence.

 

"We want to show the public that Sheikh Abdirahman [ibrahim Ma'ow] is a man who wants instability in Hiran region," Gen. Afrah added.

 

Beletwein is located near the international boundary between Somalia and Ethiopia. Last month, after Ethiopian troops briefly seized control of Beletwein, Sheikh Ma'ow declared that he will no longer support the Somali interim government.

 

RELATED:

As Ethiopia withdraws, Hiran governor quits Somalia govt

 

Source: Garowe Online

[General Duke]

Gen. Mukhtaar oo sheegay in magaalada B/'weyne la wareegeen Xarakatu Al-Shabab iyo ciidamo uu wato Shiikh C/raxmaan Mocow.

 

(10-09-2009)Taliyaha ciidamada dowladda ee gobolka Hiiraan Gen. Mukhtaar Xuseen Afrax ayaa markii u horeysay sheegay in gacanta dowladda ay ka baxday magaalada B/weyn ee xarunta Gobolka Hiiraan, isagoo ka dhawaajiyey in magaalada ay la wareegeen xoogaga Xarakatu Al-Shabab iyo ciidamo uu wato Gudoomiyaha gobolka Shiikh C/raxmaan Mocow.

 

Gen. Mukhtaar ayaa sheegay in isaga iyo ciidamadiisa ay ku sugan yihiin meel dibada ka ah magaalada ayna ka war sugayaan go'aan ka soo baxa Dowladda soomaaliya sida uu yiri.

 

"Ciidamada dowladda banaanka ayay ka joogaan B/weyn, waxaa inta badan la wareegay magaalada Al-Shabab iyo ciidamo uu wato Shiikh C/raxmaan Mocow" ayuu yiri Gen. Mukhtaar Xuseen Afrax oo wareysi siinayay Idaacada Voa.

 

Jananka ayaa ku eedeeyay Gudoomiyihii maxkamadaha Shiikh C/raxmaan Mocow inuu gacan ku siiyay Al-Shabab qabsashada magaalada B/weyn, isagoo sheegay in shacabka gobolka iyo odayaasha dhaqanka ay taageersan yihiin Dowladda sida uu hadalka u dhigay.

 

Xoogag ka tirsan Xarakatu Al-Shabab ayaa sabtidii la wareegay galbeedka magaalada B/weyn,kadib dagaal kooban oo ay la galeen ciidamada dowladda, hase ahaatee ciidamada dowlada ayaa ka wada baxay gebi ahaanba magaalada,iyadoo aan wax ciidamo ka socda Alshabab soo gaarin bariga magaalada oo uu hada ku sugan yahay Gudoomiyihii maxkamadaha ee gobolka Hiiraan Shiikh C/raxmaan Mocow oo dhowana shaaciyay inuu ka baxay dowladda.