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Hiiraan Online
Thursday, July 09, 2009
MOGADISHU (HOL) - Today is the last day of the five-day ultimatum the leader of Al-Shabaab movement Sheik Mukhtar Abdirahman Abuu Zubeyr has given Somalia’s Transitional Government (TFG) troops to surrender to Al-Shabaab forces.
Sheik Mukthar called on government soldiers to surrender to his forces adding that they will not accept government troops to keep their weapons. “We will not accept that they keep their arms and we ask them to surrender their arms to the Mujahidiin forces and continue on with their lives” said Sheik Mukhtar.
The leader of Al-Shabaab added that the leaders of the TFG who have renounced the authentic teachings of Islam will be brought to an Islamic court and will be prosecuted for crimes they have committed against Somalia and the Somali people and for inviting foreign troops to the country” said Sheik Mukhtar.
In response to the remarks of Al-Shabaab leader, the TFG’s Parliament Secretary for National Defence Sheik Yuusuf Mohamed Siyaad Indha-ade said that the Al-Shabaab leader is misguided to suggest that TFG troops should surrender in five days and Sheik Mukhtar is someone who is hiding.
Sheik Indha-ade added that TFG is willing to talk to any opposition group on the basis of the teaching the Quran and Sunnah. “If it is proven that we are wrong, we are prepared to repent but let Ahmed Godane accept talks and accept his mistakes if it is proven he is wrong” added the Parliamentary Secretary for National Defence.
These exchanges of accusations and counter-accusations and claims of victory by each side come at a time when in the last two months the two sides have been engaged in deadly fighting where hundreds of civilians were killed and injured and thousands were displaced.