Somali forces seize rebel bases in Puntland

  1. Posted on Thursday 12 August 2010 - 10:00
    Muhyadin
    Muhyadin Ahmed Roble, AfricaNews reporter in Nairobi, Kenya
    Security forces from the semi-autonomous region of Puntland seize the last base used by Al-Shabaab linked militants led by warlord Mohamed Said Atom. Puntland's senior commander Omar Abdullahi said that his force attacked militias' bases near the Galgala Mountains in northern Somalia.
    SOMALIA- Al-Shabaab warns African countries
    After briefly exchanged gunfire, the rebels fled the village, according to Puntland officers and local residents.

    "We have taken control of the last base where the Atom trained his Somali and foreign terrorists. This base was the biggest one for the group”, said a commander Omar Ali who was in the place.

    Other officials confirmed to AfricaNews that two Puntland soldiers were killed and five other wounded in the clash on Wednesday.

    Puntland forces launched their attack against Al-Shabaab linked group under the command of Mohammed Said Atom, who is on a UN Security Council watch list in late July.

    Mr Atom confirmed on Tuesday that Puntland forces took over his bases but says he will not give up the war. He said the war was being supported by United States and Ethiopia forces backed by Puntland.

    “We will turn our fight and it will be “hit and run”, said the man who denied any links with Al-Shabaab. Al-shabaab also denies any links with him.

    However, a senior Hizbul Islam leader Moalim Hashi told local FM in Mogadishu on Tuesday that he is urging Somalis to support Mr Atom and his fighters.

    Mohamed Said Atom is a notorious warlord and arms dealer based in the Sanaag mountains straddling Puntland and Somaliland. Puntland and the breakaway region of Somaliland have been relatively stable compared with the central and southern Somalia in recent years.

    Islamist insurgents run most of southern Somalia and government controls a few areas in the capital Mogadishu, where AU sent 5,000- strong peacekeepers. Western security agencies warned that Somalia is becoming a haven for international terrorists.

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