Somalia rebel groups 'plan merger' (to try to topple United Nations-backed government)

[Turborama]

Source: Al Jazeera English

Al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabab and Islamic Party insurgents plan merger to try to topple United Nations-backed government.

Last Modified: Dec 19 2010 20:49 GMT


The Islamic Party says merging with al-Shabab will create a stronger force against a weak government

The two main rebel movements in Somalia have said they plan to merge to defeat the weak, UN-backed government, according to a senior official from one of the groups.

Sheik Mohamed Osman Arus, the Islamic Party's head of operations, told The Associated Press news agency that his militia will join forces with the al-Qaeda linked al-Shabab group and fight under al-Shabab's name.

Fighters from the Islamic Party have been defeated several times by al-Shabab, including a battle to control the port city of Kismayo, one of the largest cities in the country, and now a major base for al-Shabab.

Arus however denied the merger was a face-saving tactic for his group, saying the planned union is "a bonus for the Mujahideen and a bane to the invaders and mercenaries". He said there will be a formal announcement of the merger soon, but did not give a specific date. Al-Shabab was not available for comment.

Read more: http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2010/12/20101219202047178447.html

[cpwm17]

1. The US pressured Ethiopia to invade Somalia

Predictably it created the current disaster in Somalia:

http://original.antiwar.com/prince/2010/12/13/wikileaks-reveals-us-twisted-ethiopias-arm-to-invade-somalia/