Hiiraan Online
Sunday, May 15, 2011
AMISOM said that it had killed a number of top military officials of Al-Shabaab fighters as battle for the control of Bakara market gets more deadly and destructive. Two officials of the Islamist group Abdifatah Mohamed whom AMISOM describes as an extremist commander in Mogadishu's Bakara market and Abdiwahab Sheikh Dole, an intelligence official of the group were killed in the latest fighting.
Two foreign fighters of Pakistani origin Hussein Abassi and Abdullahi Yalb, were reportedly rushed to Daynille Hospital with severe injuries after intense fighting on Friday. AMSIOM officials later confirmed the two Pakistanis succumbed to death.
In a press release mailed to Hiiraan Online, AMISOM said the operations that started early morning on Friday at El Hindi in Hawlwadag, just south of Bakara Market, is progressing with ambitions to take over the strategic area around the biggest market in the Horn of Africa Nation.
“AMISOM forces are closing in on the key central district of the city. Ugandan peacekeepers and TFG forces advanced around 400m during the day” read the press statement
“AMISOM's Burundian peacekeepers removed extremists from another key position, the Russian building, and moved to within a few meters of the notorious African Village”
The mission confirmed that three of its peacekeepers were injured during the fierce fighting, although no independent confirmation of AMISOM’s said advancement.
AMISOM further claims that 60 percent of the violent capital is now under the control of government forces with seven out of the capital’s 16 districts under AMISOM, while six are contested and three are under Al-Shabaab fighters.
Meanwhile Al-Shabaab fighters vowed to protect their frontline especially around the strategic districts of Mogadishu at a time when TFG and allied forces continue to increase their military advancement.
Earlier this week the group displayed the body of a Ugandan peacekeeper that was killed during a heavy battle between the group and TFG forces. The group also claims progress it its engagement with the Western-backed government forces.
Over the past few weeks intense fighting was underway in the capital Mogadishu as battle for the control of strategic positions gets deadly each passing day.