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Explosions Hallmark of Al Qaeda, Says Somali Official

   Peter Clottey 02 May 2010
   Relatives and friends look at people killed in a landmine explosion at
   Abdala Shideye mosque in Mogadishu, 01 Apr 2010

Photo: AP

   Relatives  and  friends look at people killed at Abdala Shideye mosque
   in Mogadishu, 01 Apr 2010

   A  cabinet  minister in Somaliaâs Transitional Federal Government says
   bomb  blasts  that killed scores of people at a mosque in the capital,
   Mogadishu,  over  the  weekend are hallmarks of the Al Qaeda terrorist
   organization.

   Abdirahman  Omar  Osman sharply condemned the attacks saying President
   Sheikh  Sharif  Sheik Ahmedâs government is committed to defeating the
   various insurgent groups, including al-Shabab.

   âThe attacks that happened in the mosque (were) very tragic and it was
   a  historic  time  in  Mogadishu  and  in  Somalia.   It  has all the
   hallmarks of Al Qaeda activities that happened in Afghanistan, Iraq or
   Pakistan.  Therefore,  as  a  government,  we  give  our  sympathy and
   blessings to people who died and people (who were) injured,â he said.

   Insurgent  groups  like al-Shabab have been fighting almost daily with
   forces  loyal  to the government.  The groups have vowed to overthrow
   President  Sharifâs  administration to implement the strictest form of
   the Sharia law.

   But  so  far,  no  insurgent  group has claimed responsibility for the
   weekend  attacks.   The  attacks  have  reportedly killed at least 32
   people with scores injured.

   Cabinet  minister  Omar  said  the  insecurity situation in Somalia is
   getting increasingly worse.

   âThis  shows  (our)  great  concern  that  we have been talking to the
   international  community  (about)  for  the  last  five  years.  And,
   Somalia  is  getting  worse by the day in terms of extremism (and) all
   kinds of Al Qaeda activities happening in Somalia,â Omar said.

   The  hard-line  insurgent  group,  al-Shabab,  is  threatening suicide
   attacks  against  the  government  and  the African Union peacekeepers
   (AMISOM)  after claiming that one of its leaders was the target of the
   attacks.

   But,  Omar  said  the  Somali  administration  will  continue to repel
   insurgent attacks.

   âWe  as  a  government, we are very committed and we are determined to
   get rid of al-Shabab and extremisms in our country,â Omar said.

   He also said President Sharifâs government needs international backing
   and  resources  in  its  drive  to  challenge  and  defeat the Islamic
   hard-liners who have vowed to overthrow the administration.

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