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Somalian insurgents vow to increase attacks during Ramadan

Mortar shells slammed into Somalia's capital on Wednesday as insurgents vowed to intensify attacks during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

  • AP
  • Published: 15:20 September 3, 2008
  • Gulf News

Mogadishu: Mortar shells slammed into Somalia's capital on Wednesday as insurgents vowed to intensify attacks during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Somalia already sees near-daily explosions of bloodshed, and thousands of Somalis have been killed since Islamic fighters began an Iraq-style insurgency in December 2006, after they were driven from power in Mogadishu and much of the south.

At least two people were killed early Wednesday, said Abdiqadir Hassan Hussein, a Mogadishu resident who witnessed some of the fighting and saw two people killed, a death toll that is expected to rise. Both sides exchanged mortar and heavy machine-gun fire in a two-hour battle,
forcing terrified residents to cower in their homes.

Wednesday's violence was the worst since Aug. 21, when four hours of fighting outside the presidential palace killed 12 people and injured 17 others.

The insurgents are trying to topple the government and drive out Ethiopian troops who are propping up the administration.

"If we die while fasting for the sake of Allah, we will go to heaven," a 26-year-old Islamic fighter, Abdi Yusouf, told The Associated Press by telephone. "So there is no reason why we shouldn't intensify the fighting."

Spokesman Abdirahin Issa Adow said fighters have "decided to redouble attacks against the Ethiopians and their stooges
during the holy month of Ramadan," which began this week.

He said the Ramadan attacks do not violate the Quran because his fighters are battling "enemies of Allah."

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