Somalia: Insurgents threaten against any government offensive

MOGADISHU - Islamist insurgents have warned the Somali transitional government and the peacekeeping force of African Union in this country (Amisom) against a possible attack of the pro-government forces in Mogadishu.

•    "We have information on this offensive planned by the apostate government against our positions in Mogadishu and other parts of the country," said Tuesday Mohamed Osman Arus, spokesman for the Hezb al-Islam, an insurgent movements, allied to radical Islamist Shebab. 
  
     "They want to attack us from several directions (...). We are ready to counter attack (...),whatever their preparation and support, and with God's help we will prevail," he said. 
  
     The official spokesman of Shebab, Sheikh Ali Mohamoud Rage, had already said Monday in Mogadishu before the press that his movement was "informed of that preparations currently led by apostates". "They always wanted to make war against us but they have never won a single battle," said Rage. 
  
     The transitional government (TFG) has been saying for weeks that it is preparing to launch, with the support of Amisom, a major offensive in the capital against the Shebab and their allies Hezb al-Islam. 
  
     Supported by the international community, the very weak TFG, whose authority is limited to some parts of the capital, has survived to this day thanks to military support from AMISOM, strong with 5300 men. 
  
     It came under attack almost daily of Shebab, who claim al-Qaeda and have in their ranks hundreds of foreign jihadists.
  
  Ennaharonline/ M. O.