April 16, 2013 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

Somalia calls on citizens to help root out militants

15 Apr – Source: Wall Street Journal /CNN – 272 words

Somalia’s fledging democratic government appealed on Monday for its people to help fight a militant group it said carried out a gun and bomb assault on the nation’s highest court the day before, an attack that killed dozens of people and threatened to derail recent steps to restore stability to the strife-torn East African country.

Gen. Abdihakin Saeed Dahir Saeed, Somalia’s deputy police chief, blamed the attack on al-Shabaab, the Islamic militant group that last year ceded control of the capital Mogadishu to African peacekeepers and Somali security forces. He called the assault an act of desperation, but said Somali people needed to help police identify and dismantle the group’s remaining cells.

Key Headlines

President Hassan: Let us be united for the fight against al-Shabaab ( Radio Bar-kulan)
Turkey vows continued support to Somalia after attack on Kızılay workers (Today’s Zaman)
Somalia: EU HR Ashton condemns attacks in Mogadishu (EU-UN.Europa)
Tributes paid to Somali human rights lawyers killed in al-Shabaab attack ( Guardian)
Mogadishu remains on high alert after deadly attacks on Sunday (Radio Mogadishu)
Public gathering denounces yesterday’s court attack which killed dozens (Raxanreeb)
New rain gauges installed in Puntland (Radio Ergo)
Yemen condemns terrorist bombings in Somalia (Yemen News Agency)

SOMALI MEDIA

Mogadishu remains on high alert after deadly attacks on Sunday

15 Apr – Source: Raxanreeb/ Radio Mogadishu – 386 words

Mogadishu is remaining on high security alert following Sunday’s deadly terrorist attacks that killed more than 30 people and wounded 46 others, RBC Radio reports on Monday. The national security and interior minister Abdikarim Hussein Guled announced on Monday that the security forces of the country will remain vigilant to ensure stability in the capital. “We have ordered all the security forces to be on high alert and will remain vigilant to prevent the terrorists’ desire to hinder the peace” the minister told the state-run radio.

President Hassan: Let us be united for the fight against al Shabaab

15 Apr- Source: Radio Bar-kulan – 149 words

After holding an emergency meeting with top security officials following Sunday’s bomb and gun attacks in Mogadishu, Somali president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said that the fight against al Shabaab has changed its face. President Hassan urged members of the public to join the government and be ready to take part in what he termed as ‘the new fight’ against al Shabaab. “They [al-Shabaab] are a common enemy that is not stoppable by a single person or group, people should face them from a single direction,” Hassan Sheikh said.

Somaliland parliament gets extension

15 Apr – Source: Somaliland Informer – 206 words

The legislative in Somaliland, which is composed of two chambers-the appointed House of Elders ( Upper Chamber) and a House of Representatives ( Lower Chamber). In an unscheduled meeting on Monday, held in the House of elders has passed a legislation that extended the House of Representatives to serve for two years until 2015. They have also extended their term by three years following the legislation that they passed with overwhelming majority.

Public gathering denounces court attack which killed dozens

15 Apr – Source: Raxanreeb – 326 words

Thousands of citizens have demonstrated in the Somali capital on Monday to denounce Sunday’s assault at the courts building in Mogadishu that killed more than 30 people including two famous Somali lawyers, RBC Radio reports. Angry demonstrators, mostly women and teenagers have gathered in Heliwaa district, north of Mogadishu early on Monday with tightened security to deplore the attack. 32 people were killed and 58 others wounded in Mogadishu after al Shabaab extremists stormed Somali capital’s main court buildings in Xamarweyne neighborhood, firing guns and setting off explosions during clashes with security forces.

New rain gauges installed in Puntland

15 Apr – Source: Radio Ergo – 122 words

New rainfall measuring equipment has been installed in Puntland for predicting and measuring rainfall. The rain gauges have already been installed at eight weather centres around the region and will continue at 12 more stations. The program is supported by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) through its SWALIM (Somalia Water and Land Information Management) project. Puntland’s two main weather stations with satellite connections are in Garowe and Galkayo,. Smaller weather centres are located in Goldogob, Lasanod, Bosasso, Baran, Isku-shuban, Burtinle, Qardo, Eyl, Jarriban, Taleeh, Aluula, Boame, Dangoronyo, Qandala and Buhodle.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Yemen condemns terrorist bombings in Somalia

15 Apr – Source: Yemen News Agency – 92 words

An official source in the Yemeni government has condemned the terrorist bombings in the Somali capital Mogadishu that killed dozens of innocent Somali civilians. In a statement to Saba, the source confirmed Yemen’s rejection to those attacks that threaten the security and stability of Somalia and harm its national interests and social peace. The source renewed the call of the Yemeni government to all Somali parties to help the central government and President Hasan Sheikh Mohamud to continue their efforts to bring peace and security and promote the reconstruction process in Somalia.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Somalia Calls on Citizens To Help Root Out Militants

15 Apr – Source: Wall Street Journal /CNN – 272 words

EU HR Ashton condemns attacks in Mogadishu

15 Apr – Source: EU-UN.Europa – 102 words

The Spokesperson of Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, issued the following statement today on attacks in Mogadishu, Somalia: “The High Representative condemns yesterday’s attacks in Mogadishu. She is deeply saddened by the reported death and injury of innocent people and conveys her sympathy to their families and friends. The High Representative is confident that such acts will not reverse the remarkable progress made in restoring peace and stability in Somalia. The EU stands firmly with the Somali people and Government and remains committed to supporting Somalia’s reconstruction.”

Turkey vows continued support to Somalia after attack on Kızılay workers

15 Apr – Source: Today’s Zaman – 585 words

Turkey has promised to continue to provide support to the people of Somalia after suicide bombers and assaults targeted law courts but also hit a convoy of the Turkish Red Crescent (Kızılay) and African Union (AU) in Mogadishu on Sunday, killing at least 30 people in all the attacks, including one Somali individual working with Kızılay, and wounding 20, including three Turkish aid workers. In a statement issued by the Foreign Ministry, Turkey condemned the terrorist attacks that took place in several parts of Mogadishu, expressing deep sorrow for the civilians who died or were wounded in the attacks.

Tributes paid to Somali human rights lawyers killed in al-Shabaab attack

15 Apr – Source: Guardian – 491 words

Media workers in Somalia have paid tribute to two human rights lawyers who were among at least 35 people killed in the deadliest Islamist militant attack in years in Mogadishu.Prof Mohamed Mohamud Afrah, head of the Somali Lawyers Association, and the advocate Abdikarin Hassan Gorod had represented a journalist imprisoned for the “crime” of interviewing an alleged rape victim, a sentence that brought worldwide opprobrium.

NJ men seek leniency in Somalia terror case

15 Apr – Source: AP – 134 words

Two New Jersey men who pleaded guilty to trying to join an armed Islamic group in Somalia in order to wage holy war against non-Muslims are pleading with a judge for leniency. Mohamed Alessa and Carlos Almonte both spoke at their sentencing hearing Monday in Newark. Both said they had been troubled teenagers who never intended to harm anyone and were remorseful over the anguish they had caused their families.

SOCIAL MEDIA

CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS

Dr. Hawa Abdi Praises Somalis in Ohio for promoting her Compelling Book

15 Apr – Source: Hiiraan Online – 973 words

Dr. Hawa Abdi, the renowned Somali gynecologist, humanitarian activist and Nobel Prize nominee was in Columbus, Ohio on Thursday, April 11th and Friday, April 13th, 2013 as part of her American tour to promote her new book “Keeping Hope Alive: One Woman; 90,000 Lives.” In her book signing tour, Dr. Hawa was accompanied by her daughter and fellow medical doctor, Dr. Deqo Aden Mohamed and Sarah Robbins, a New York-based journalist, who co-authored the book with Dr. Hawa Abdi.

Somalis in Ohio came out in large numbers to buy the book and make sure that Dr. Hawa appends her signature on their books. On Thursday, a large crowde of wellwishers and supporters flocked to the Barnes and Nobles bookstore at the Easton Mall in Columbus where Dr. Hawa, her daughter Dr. Deqa and co-author Sarah made a good presentation on Dr. Hawa’s professional journey that saw her grow from a little girl who lost her mother at the tender age of 12 to an internationally acknowledged human rights defender who provides hope, home and healing the more than 90,000 vulnerable Somalis in her farm which became known as the Dr. Hawa Abdi Villege. At the end of that event, an employee of the bookstore declared that the store’s inventory of the book was down to only 6 books.