18 Oct 2011 – Morning headlines
Key Headlines:
- Somali militants threaten suicide attacks in Kenya
- Government will ensure smooth delivery of relief aid says president Sharif
- Three wounded in Mogadishu bomb blasts targeted AMISOM
- Somalia captures speed boat filled with weapons
- Al Shabaab ban measles jab in Middle Shabelle
- Second Somali town seized
- Chopper that killed 5 was not attacked – DoD
SOMALI MEDIA
Government will ensure smooth delivery of relief aid, says president Sharif
17 Oct- Source: Radio Bar-kulan- 188 words
Somali president Sharif Sheikh Ahmed has said his government in conjunction with aid agencies will make sure humanitarian aids are properly delivered to the needy people in the country. While chairing a meeting on aid delivery in Mogadishu, the president also pinpointed the need to have a long-term relocation strategy of drought and famine displaced families in various parts of the country.
Al Shabaab says it will “attack” if Kenyans invade Somalia
17 Oct- Source: Radio Gaalkacyo, Kulmiye, Shabelle- 88 words
Al Shabaab have “threatened to attack” Kenya if its troops enter Somalia. Sheikh Hasan Turki, a senior al Shabaab official told the media that the Islamist group have been “mobilized” to fight against Kenyan troops who are backing what he termed apostates (TFG and AMISOM).
Police urged to secure the entire city of Mogadishu
17 Oct- Source: Radio Bar-kulan, Radio Mogadishu- 259 words
Somalia’s Defence Ministry has called on the country’s police force and security agency to fully operate inside the recently al Shabaab-abandoned areas in the capital, Mogadishu, in order to secure the entire city. Defence Minister Hussein Arab Isse who toured parts of the capital on Sunday called on the police to beef up security in al Shabaab-abandoned areas to fill the security vacuum.
Three wounded in Mogadishu bomb blasts targeted AMISOM
17 Oct- Source: Radio Shabelle, Kulmiye, Risaala- 101 words
At least three people have so far been confirmed injured in Mogadishu roadside bombs targeting an AMISOM base in the capital. Witnesses told radio Shabelle that the explosions rocked a Burundian contingent based in Mogadishu’s southern west tip. Reports say that AMISOM soldiers were among those killed or injured in the bomb attack.
Puntland reiterates it will assure internal security
17 Oct- Source: Shabelle- 102 words
The semi-autonomous state of Puntland on Monday reiterated it is committed to assuring the internal security. Puntland’s home security minister Khalif Isse Mudan made the comments while speaking at a press conference at Garowe, the capital of Puntland.
http://shabelle.net/article.
Somalia captures speed boat filled with weapons
17 Oct- Source: Somaliareport, Radio Mogadishu- 38 words
A Senior Somali government official told media that Somalia’s coast guard, with the support of African Union peacekeeping forces, today seized a speedboat near Mogadishu’s old port carrying at least seven men and a variety of weapons.
Al Shabaab ban measles jab in Middle Shabelle
17 Oct- Source: Radio Bar-kulan- 526 words
Al Shabaab militant group in Jowhar, Middle Shabelle, has reportedly banned the UN Children agency from vaccinating underage children from measles. An official with UNICEF who requested anonymity for fear of reprisals said the rebel group has banned them from carrying out measles vaccination campaign in the region.
Somali MP calls on al Shabaab to take peace
17 Oct- Source: Radio Shabelle- 103 words
One of Somali parliamentarians, who was recently injured in Mogadishu roadside bomb attack, has called on al Shabaab to take peace. Mohamed Ali Omar Ana Nug, a Somali legislator, said al Shabaab group should relinquish bothering and harming the civilian people.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Al Shabaab threatens Kenya revenge attacks
17 Oct- Source: Daily Nation- 443 words
Somalia militia al Shabaab has threatened revenge attacks against Kenya if the government does not withdraw its troops from the war-torn country. In a statement, the al Qaeda linked group also denied involvement in the kidnapping of foreign tourists and aid workers dismissing the “allegations put forward by the Kenyan authorities with regard to the recent kidnappings are, at best, unfounded”.
http://www.nation.co.ke/News/
Kenyan troops 100km inside Somalia
17 Oct- Source: Capital FM, AFP- 687 words
Hundreds of Kenyan troops ventured deep into Somalia on Monday to hunt al Shabaab fighters blamed for a spate of kidnappings, prompting the al Qaeda group to threaten reprisals in the heart of Nairobi. Backed by aerial bombings and guided by pro-government Somali forces, Kenyan troops moved deeper into southern Somalia, a day after Nairobi declared war on the Shabaab militia.
http://www.capitalfm.co.ke/
Food-insecure Eritrea approves aid plan for Somalia
17 Oct- Source: Africa Review- 182 words
The Eritrean government has announced a plan to send food aid to hunger-hit Somalia, despite having been classified by the UN as also needing help.Eritrean information minister Ali Abdu told state television Monday that the cabinet last week approved the plan last week to assist in the humanitarian effort. Mr Ali said its help is part of Eritrea effort to stabilise Somalia.
Chopper that killed 5 was not attacked – DoD
17 Oct- Source: Capital FM- 716 words
A helicopter that crashed at the Kenya-Somalia border killing five military personnel on Sunday was not brought down by enemy fire, it emerged on Monday. The Department of Defence confirmed to Capital News that the plane may have gone down after a mechanical malfunction or pilot error.
http://www.capitalfm.co.ke/
Second Somali town seized
18 Oct – The Star – 600 words
Al Shabaab militia were pushed out of a second base in lower Jubba yesterday during a joint operation by Kenyan forces with Somalia soldiers. The capture of Afmadow came just hours after the fall of Qoqani which is about 100 km from the Kenya-Somalia border.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Kenya’s Somalia action draws threats
17 Oct – Source: UPI (US) – 174 words
The al Shabaab terrorist organization has threatened to attack Kenya unless Kenya withdraws military forces it sent to Somalia. Al Shabaab spokesman Sheik Ali Mohamud Rage threatened Kenya with reprisal after hundreds of Kenyan infantry, assisted by tanks and helicopters crossed the border into Somalia Sunday, al Jazeera reported Monday.
Brits held in Kenya over terror group link
18 Oct – Source: Sky News – 205 words
Two Britons have been arrested in Kenya near the border with Somalia, police have confirmed. Sky News sources understand they were held on suspicion of being associated with Islamist militant group al Shabaab. The pair, believed to be from Cardiff, were detained on Sunday.
http://news.sky.com/home/
Somali militants threaten suicide attacks in Kenya
17 Oct- Source: ABC News, AP- 526 words
Somali militants on Monday threatened to bring down Nairobi skyscrapers after Kenya sent hundreds of troops into Somalia. The threat emanated from the same lawless country in which the al-Qaida masterminds behind 1998 bombings of two U.S. embassies sought refuge.
http://abcnews.go.com/