Militants Back On Offense In Somalia

Government Says 80 Percent Of Country Unsafe, 10 Die As Mortars Slam Into Mogadishu

(CBS/AP)  Radical Islamists with alleged links to al Qaeda have regrouped after being driven from power last year and are poised to launch a massive attack against the Somali government, an official said Thursday.

Within hours, mortars slammed into the biggest market in the capital, Mogadishu, killing at least 10 people.

"I saw the dead bodies of at least 10 people, and 10 others were rushed to the hospital," said Muqtar Nor, a Mogadishu resident. It marked the latest bloodshed in a city that is enduring a seething Islamic insurgency.

The government has "no power to resist the Islamists" and is failing to control most of the country, said Sheik Qasim Ibrahim Nur, director of security at the National Security Ministry.

"About 80 percent of Somalia is not safe and is not under control of the government," Nur told The Associated Press in an exclusive interview. "Islamists are planning to launch a massive attack against the (government) and its allied troops."

Nur also appealed for international support, saying the Islamists "are everywhere."

The comments - a rare acknowledgment by the government that its control is tenuous at best - come amid increasing signs that the Council of Islamic Courts is again gaining power in this Horn of Africa nation.

The group, which controlled the capital and much of southern Somalia for six months, was driven from power last December when Ethiopia sent crucial military reinforcements, including soldiers and fighter jets.

But the Islamists have launched an Iraq-style insurgency, throwing this already beleaguered nation into bloody chaos.

The United Nations says Somalia is facing Africa's biggest humanitarian crisis. Some 6,000 civilians have been killed in the fighting this year alone, a local humanitarian group says.

Somalia has not had a functioning government since warlords overthrew a dictator in 1991, then turned on one another.

The current government, led by President Abdullahi Yusuf, was formed in 2004 with the support of the U.N., but has struggled to assert any real control.

[libsluvsuvs]

isnt Africa a liberal and UN stronghold?????

[aero21164]

the world will be a lot better place when people realize there are no gods!!!!!!!!!!

[notblue]

ghomes1, the daily brainwashing you have received at your local mosque is obviously very effective. YOu and your brothers in Jihad are the premier evil facing the modern world. GOd willing you and others who adhere to this twisted ideology known as radical Islam will be "wiped off the face of the earth" God willing.

[ghomes1]

zoltaric

When people begin to bash others, it means they don''t have a good argument. Islam is not the cause of this violence, Its Born Again Christians who believe Jesus (maybe peace be upon him and his mother) is going to come back a bail thier butts to heaven. Yes I believe Prophet Muhammad talked to the angels, God always protects his messenger. Look up history and stop being ignorant of the past... Go watch a film on his life and you will realize the truth, may God guide you.

[runningralph]

Maybe you people didn''t hear about the Muslim that helped out some Jews that were being attacked on a New York subway. Some people interpret that to mean Islam is kind and loving. Never mind Darfur, Taliban, Gaza, train and plane bombings etc. Islam is nice and friendly! The mess in Somalia is another example. Don''t get me started. Make no mistake. One individual on a subway showing his human side does not cancel out the organized violence Islam is perpetrating.

[zoltaric]

ghomes1

Are you really that stupid? Or are you a primitive thinking Mooslum that believs Mooohammed really talked to angels. Tell us how these Islamists maintained control? Was it by allowing the people to be free? To worship as they choose. By not killing and imprisoning people.

Islam is a cancer on the world and it will be exsised.

Death to Islam
**** on Muhammed

[terrorislam6]

it is fascist nazi terrorislam stupid,,,

non muslims of the world unite,,, fight against the tyranny of the fascist nazi terrorslam imperialist empire of the darkside,,,

I was a fanatic...I know their thinking, says former radical Islamist
By blaming the Government for our actions, those who pushed this "Blair''''s bombs" line did our propaganda work for us.
More important, they also helped to draw away any critical examination from the real engine of our violence: Islamic theology.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=465570&in_page_id=1770

Bless the Beasts and Children
Fascist nazi terrorslam kills every man woman and child in the village again%u2026 typical mo for terrorslam%u2026
http://www.michaelyon-online.com/wp/bless-the-beasts-and-children.htm

Our Prophet commanded us to fight the kaafirs when we are able and to attack them in their homelands and to give them three choices before we enter their lands: either they become Muslim and be like us, sharing our rights and duties; or they pay the jizyah (poll tax) and feel themselves subdued; or they fight, in which case their wealth, women, children and homes become permissible as booty for the Muslims.
http://islamqa.com/index.php?ref=13759&ln=eng&txt=before%20islam%20arabia%20pagan

the truth about fascist nazi terrorislam...
http://www.terrorismawareness.org/what-really-happened/

[terrorislam6]

IT IS FASCIST NAZI TERRORISLAM STUPID

Dutch lawmaker planning film criticizing the Quran
A Dutch conservative lawmaker said Wednesday he is making a film to highlight what he describes as "fascist" passages in the Quran, his latest high profile criticism of Islam.

Wilders plans to depict parts of the Quran he says are used as inspiration "by bad people to do bad things."
Less than 10 minutes long, the film is expected to air in late January. It will show "the intolerant and fascist character of the Quran," said Wilders, whose anti-Islam campaign helped his Freedom Party win nine seats in parliament in last year''''s election.

In the past, Wilders has said that half the Quran should be torn up and compared it with Adolf Hitler''''s book "Mein Kampf." He has claimed the Netherlands is being swamped by a "tsunami" of Islamic immigrants.
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/11/28/europe/EU-GEN-Netherlands-Anti-Quran-Film.php

[sbb2211]

October 1993: "Clinton Orders 5,300 Troops to Somalia; Vows End in 6 Months"

http://www-tech.mit.edu/V113/N48/somalia.48w.html

It''s been 14 YEARS, and Somalia is still wracked with strife. Yeah, Bill, you sure cleaned up THAT mess.

He got his PP whacked in Mogadishu and ran like a coward.

But, of course, Liberals will conveniently forget about that and concentrate on Bush/Iraq.

[ghomes1]

Very bias reporting done by CBS. The Islamic Court during thier rule was able to establish peace and security until the United States and its Ethiopian backed allies got rid of them. I guess CBS forgot the part..huh..what Islam did for Somalia in 6months the United States and it Allies couldn''t do in the years it has been trying to bring in democracy. I wish Bush would make it once and clear for all that his true enemy is ISLAM and GOD. Make GOD curse him and all his intentions.