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At Least 30 Killed in Central Somalia Fighting

   Scores  more  have  been wounded in the battle between insurgent group
   al-Shabab and the group of Ahlu-Sunna Wal-Jamaa in Dhusamareb

   VOA News 03 January 2010

   The death toll is up to at least 30 from a battle between two Islamist
   groups in central Somalia.
   The   insurgent  group  al-Shabab  attacked  the  town  of  Dhusamareb
   Saturday,  trying  to seize it from Ahlu-Sunna Wal-Jamaa, a group that
   backs the Somali government.
   Al-Shabab  claimed  control  of the town late Saturday, but Ahlu-Sunna
   says  it  beat  back  the  assault  and  inflicted heavy casualties on
   al-Shabab's fighters.
   Reports  from  the  town Sunday say at least 30 people were killed and
   scores more were wounded in the battle.
   This  was  the  first  fighting  in  Dhusamareb  since Ahlu-Sunna took
   control of the town from al-Shabab in December 2008.
   The  town  is  in  the  Galgadud  region,  north of Somalia's capital,
   Mogadishu.   Witnesses  say many residents have fled because they fear
   more violence.
   Al-Shabab  is trying to overthrow the Western-backed Somali government
   and  establish  an  Islamic  state.  The group controls large parts of
   southern and central Somalia after a three-year insurgency.
   The United States accuses of the group of having links to al-Qaida.

   Some information for this report was provided by Reuters.

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