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Somalia's al-Shabab rebels leave Mogadishu | Somalia's al-Shabab rebels leave Mogadishu |
(40 minutes later) | |
Somalia's al-Shabab Islamist rebels have pulled out of all positions in the Somali capital of Mogadishu, government and rebel spokesmen say. | Somalia's al-Shabab Islamist rebels have pulled out of all positions in the Somali capital of Mogadishu, government and rebel spokesmen say. |
President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed declared the rebels defeated after they left overnight on trucks. | President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed declared the rebels defeated after they left overnight on trucks. |
However, al-Shabab described the move as a "change of military tactics". | However, al-Shabab described the move as a "change of military tactics". |
The conflict has hampered aid efforts in the famine-hit country, with the militia barring some aid agencies from central and southern areas it controls. | The conflict has hampered aid efforts in the famine-hit country, with the militia barring some aid agencies from central and southern areas it controls. |
African Union peacekeepers and government forces have for years been contained to small areas of the capital but have recently been gaining ground. | |
The pull-out followed reports of gun battles in the capital on Friday night. | The pull-out followed reports of gun battles in the capital on Friday night. |
Sheikh Ahmed told a press conference: "The Somali government welcomes the success attained by the Somali government forces backed by Amisom (peacekeepers) who defeated the enemy of al-Shabab." | Sheikh Ahmed told a press conference: "The Somali government welcomes the success attained by the Somali government forces backed by Amisom (peacekeepers) who defeated the enemy of al-Shabab." |
'Counter-attack' | 'Counter-attack' |
However, a spokesman for the al-Qaeda-linked rebels, Ali Mohamed Rage, told a local radio station there would be no withdrawal from other regions of southern Somalia. | However, a spokesman for the al-Qaeda-linked rebels, Ali Mohamed Rage, told a local radio station there would be no withdrawal from other regions of southern Somalia. |
It seems very premature to be putting this down as a victory seeing that al-Shabab have vowed to fight on in Mogadishu but with different tactics. | It seems very premature to be putting this down as a victory seeing that al-Shabab have vowed to fight on in Mogadishu but with different tactics. |
They say they are going to switch to guerrilla tactics, so we could now see more suicide bombings, more grenade attacks and perhaps the use of more landmines. | They say they are going to switch to guerrilla tactics, so we could now see more suicide bombings, more grenade attacks and perhaps the use of more landmines. |
These kind of triumphant noises were made at the end of 2006 when Islamists forces withdrew, only for them to come back a month later and cause chaos. | |
While al-Shabab says it's leaving, there are also some reports that they simply may be melting away in order to carry out these guerrilla-style tactics. | While al-Shabab says it's leaving, there are also some reports that they simply may be melting away in order to carry out these guerrilla-style tactics. |
African Union peacekeepers aren't celebrating, they are being cautious. So it's not clear if it will be easier for the aid agencies to operate. | African Union peacekeepers aren't celebrating, they are being cautious. So it's not clear if it will be easier for the aid agencies to operate. |
Very few analysts think peaceful days are ahead in Mogadishu. | Very few analysts think peaceful days are ahead in Mogadishu. |
"The retreat by our forces is only aiming to counter-attack the enemy. People will hear happy news in the coming hours," he said. | "The retreat by our forces is only aiming to counter-attack the enemy. People will hear happy news in the coming hours," he said. |
"We shall fight the enemy wherever they are." | "We shall fight the enemy wherever they are." |
A spokesman for the African Union peacekeepers in Somalia said the force was treating the rebel withdrawal with caution in case it was a trap. | A spokesman for the African Union peacekeepers in Somalia said the force was treating the rebel withdrawal with caution in case it was a trap. |
Soldiers would not immediately deploy across Mogadishu, Lt Col Paddy Ankunda told the BBC. | Soldiers would not immediately deploy across Mogadishu, Lt Col Paddy Ankunda told the BBC. |
Some analysts have suggested the Islamist insurgents withdrew because funding from the Arab world had dwindled and they had become militarily weaker. | Some analysts have suggested the Islamist insurgents withdrew because funding from the Arab world had dwindled and they had become militarily weaker. |
Parts of the capital, where there are camps for displaced people, were last week among three areas newly declared by the United Nations to be suffering famine. | Parts of the capital, where there are camps for displaced people, were last week among three areas newly declared by the United Nations to be suffering famine. |
There are now a total of five famine zones in the country. | There are now a total of five famine zones in the country. |
The UN says some 640,000 children are acutely malnourished in Somalia, while 3.2 million people are in need of immediate life-saving assistance. | The UN says some 640,000 children are acutely malnourished in Somalia, while 3.2 million people are in need of immediate life-saving assistance. |