Islamists seize peaceful town in Somalia, 25 dead as government regains control

Friday, May 13th, 2011 | Posted by Noor

Islamists seize the semi-autonomous region of Puntland which is known to be more peaceful in comparison to south central Somalia. (File Photo)

At least 25 people were killed when hundreds of Somali insurgents seized a town in a northern region of the country on Wednesday, according to The Associated Press.

Islamists briefly seized Gal Gala, a town 40 kilometers south of Bosasso port, a commercial hub of the semi-autonomous region of Puntland, said the area’s Minister of Security, Yusuf Ahmed Khahr.

He added the government had re-seized control of the town.

This is the first attack of its kind in Puntland, which is known to be a peaceful area compared to south central Somalia.

Mr. Khayr said five soldiers were killed though another official placed the death toll at nine. AP was unable to ascertain the exact number or determine the reason for the discrepancy in figures.

However, both men agreed that six insurgents were killed “during the initial attack when Islamists ambushed a government patrol by firing rocket-propelled grenades at their vehicles,” reported AP.

“But government forces launched a counterattack and killed 14 more insurgents when they regained the town,” Mr. Khayr said.

The insurgents are led by Sheikh Ali Gamey, linked to arms dealer Mohamed Atom, who the United Nations accuses of “supplying weapons to Somalia’s Al Shabab militia in the south.”

Sheikh Gamey is reportedly a member of the Islamic group Al Ittihad and was arrested in 2010 but later released on bail.

Somalia has been mired in civil war for more than two decades. It has not had a functioning government for that period either.

Islamists are fighting a weak UN-backed government but the problem is exacerbated by clan rivalries, corruption, and alleged involvement of Ethiopia and Eritrea.

(Muna Khan, Editor of Al Arabiya English, can be reached at: muna.khan@mbc.net)

source : alarabiya