16 killed in latest Somali violence

October 9th, 2009 Somali Islamist commander gunned down in capitalMOGADISHU, Somalia — An Islamist spokesman says gunmen have killed a senior member of Somalia's insurgency in the country's capital. Hizbul Islam spokesman Mohammed Osman Aros says the group does not know who killed Ahmed Abdurahamn Odawa, known as "Taliban".

October 6th, 2009 Somali defense minister seized in UgandaMOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia's defense minister was seized Tuesday during a trip to the Ugandan capital in what the Somali president said was likely a "mistake" by Ugandan security forces. Yusuf Mohamed Siad was picked up as he walked out of a mosque in Kampala, Somali government spokesman Sheik Abdirisaq Qeylow said.

October 6th, 2009 Somali minister for defense kidnapped in UgandaMOGADISHU, Somalia — Gunmen kidnapped Somalia's state minister for defense Tuesday during a trip to the Ugandan capital, a Somali government spokesman said. Minister Yusuf Mohamed Siad was abducted as he walked out of a mosque in Kampala, Somali government spokesman Sheik Abdirisaq Qeylow said.

September 30th, 2009 Somali group executes 2 men accused of espionageMOGADISHU, Somalia — An extremist Islamic group has executed two Somali men in the country's capital, accusing them of being spies for foreign organizations. A firing squad of 10 al-Shabab men killed the two on Monday in Mogadishu's main livestock market, says Said Yusuf, who was one of hundreds of witnesses.

August 12th, 2009 Witnesses: 5 Pakistani preachers killed in SomaliaMOGADISHU, Somalia — Masked gunmen killed five Pakistani preachers Wednesday outside a mosque in Somalia following morning prayers, witnesses said. Six gunmen with assault rifles and pistols stormed Tawfiq Mosque in Galkayo and forced six Pakistani preachers and a Somali man outside, said Ismail Mohamud Hassan, who was in the mosque at the time.

July 11th, 2009 MOGADISHU - At least 15 people, including the security head of Mogadishu, were killed and 43 others injured in clashes between the security forces and Islamic militants in the Somali capital Saturday, officials said. Nur Hassan Ali, in charge of Mogadishu security, was killed in one of the battles between Somali government forces and militants in the Abdelaziz district here, an official said.

July 5th, 2009 Somali fighting kills at least 12 in MogadishuMOGADISHU, Somalia — Heavy shelling between Somali rebels and government forces near the presidential palace killed at least 12 people on Sunday, witnesses said, and the prime minister looked for help from more African Union peacekeepers. Prime minister Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke said more AU troops were expected soon to back his forces but gave no further details Sunday.

June 29th, 2009 Somali insurgents to seize US arms supplyMOGADISHU, Somalia — A spokesman for radical Islamic insurgents says his group will seize weapons the U.S. has supplied to Somalia's embattled government.

June 23rd, 2009 MOGADISHU - The Somali government has declared a state of emergency in the war torn country as government forces battled insurgents. "The Somali government decided to impose a state of emergency on the country so that we can overcome the difficult situation the country is going through," President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed said at a press conference in Mogadishu.

June 18th, 2009 Somalia president: al-Qaida behind suicide bombingMOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia's president says al-Qaida is behind a suicide bombing that killed the national security minister in a western Somali town. Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed says a senior Somali diplomat also died in Thursday's attack in Belet Weyne that killed at least 20 people.

June 1st, 2009 4 police officers killed in Somalia roadside bombMOGADISHU, Somalia — Police in Somalia say a roadside bomb in the capital has killed at least four police officers and several civilians. Somali police chief Abdi Hassan Awale said it was not immediately clear how many civilians died in Monday's attack in Mogadishu.

May 26th, 2009 MOGADISHU - More than 67,000 people have been displaced in the escalating violence in the Somali capital, as the military intensified their operations against the Islamic militants, who fired mortar shells at the presidential palace Tuesday, killing at least 10 people. Military spokesman Farhan Mahad said none of the mortar shells hit the presidential building, but landed in a nearby area killing seven people.

May 14th, 2009 MOGADISHU - Somali President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed has signed a bill that will allow the implementation of Sharia or Islamic law in the country. Since Somalia has now implemented the Sharia, there is no reason for the continuation of hostilities in the country, Ahmed said Wednesday after signing the bill into law.

May 8th, 2009 Diplomat: Somali pirates seize small Dutch shipNAIROBI, Kenya — Somali pirates seized a small Dutch ship Thursday in the Gulf of Aden, the latest hijacking in one of the world's busiest and most dangerous waterways, a Western diplomat said. There were no immediate details on the number of crew or their nationalities.

April 21st, 2009 Top Asian News at 8:00 a.m. GMTMANILA, Philippines — Somali pirates freed a chemical tanker and its 23 Filipino crew members Tuesday after holding them hostage in the Gulf of Aden for more than five months, the ship owner and officials said.