Somali Islamic insurgents take 2 strategic towns [View All]

[Coventina]

Source: Associated Press

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — An Islamic militia that the U.S. considers a terrorist organization took over two strategic towns in Somalia on Tuesday, the latest territory grab by a strengthening insurgency, officials said.

The militia, al-Shabab, seized El Dheer in central Somalia and Qoryoley in the south as part of a burgeoning campaign to take territory nominally held by the weak U.N.-backed government and its Ethiopian allies. The new seizures give the group a strategic base in central Somalia, where it controls Kismayo, the third-largest city.

Al-Shabab, which means "the youth," is the military wing of Union of Islamic Courts, an Islamic party that ruled much of the country in the second half of 2006 and aims to impose Islamic sharia law in Somalia. It launches daily attacks on Somali government forces and their Ethiopian allies.

The U.S. says many of its leaders are linked to al-Qaida.



Read more: http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5g7OaI4_kjeHA-o4UhlmP7vlWmrrwD94CNIS00