Fresh Fighting Starts in Mogadishu

Mogadishu — Fresh fighting between Somali Islamist insurgents and government Soldiers has broken out at Dherkenley district in Mogadishu early on Monday morning, witnesses said.

Residents said that the fighting began after the Somali Islamist fighters have attacked a military base of the government soldiers at around the residences come under Dherkenley district especialy the residences of Dabakyo Madow and Ma'ma'anka in Mogadishu and both militias exchanged heavy weapons as reported.

Somali pirates build up defences after making ransom demand

Somali pirates built up their defences around a captured Saudi Arabian super-tanker Friday after demanding a 25 million dollar ransom.

As foreign navies sent warships to Somalia's dangerous waters and shipping companies sought alternative routes, extra clan militia and other fighters were brought in at the pirate lair of Harardhere, residents said.



"Some of them are inside the town and others are taking shelter in a nearby village and can be called if need be," local resident Mohamed Awale told AFP. He said the fighters had come from neighbouring Gulgudud and Mudug regions.

Local militia and hardline Shebab fighters also arrived in Harardhere in what some residents said was a move to position themselves for a share of any ransom paid.

"There are two armed vehicles belonging to al Shebab. They have reached the town of Harardhere but there are no intentions of attacking the ship from here," a Harardhere Islamist official told AFP by phone.

Zimbabwe crisis talks to continue

Talks on rescuing Zimbabwe's power-sharing deal have ended without result but will resume in the morning, key leaders have said.

President Robert Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai spoke after the first day of talks mediated by ex-South African President Thabo Mbeki.



Mr Mbeki brokered the agreement to share power last month.

Mr Tsvangirai threatened to pull out of it after Mr Mugabe gave key ministries to his own supporters.

The US state department has accused Mr Mugabe of "overstepping the bounds of the agreement".
Also on Tuesday, Zimbabwe's parliament held its first working session under opposition control since the disputed elections earlier this year. MPs heckled each other at the opening.

While the power-sharing crisis continues, life for normal Zimbabweans remains a constant struggle, the BBC's Jonah Fisher reports from neighbouring South Africa.

Africa: Standby Force - AU Signs MOU for Training

The African Union (AU), yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Association of Peace Support Training Centre (APSTA), for the training of African military personnel.

This is as former Head of State and Patron of Association of Peace-keeping Trainers in Africa , General Abubakar Abbulsalami (rtd), has described as frustrating, the continued crisis in Darfur, adding that there is no longer a clear cut distinction between the actors.



Commandant of the Nigerian Defence College (NDC), Rear Admiral John Jonah, who is President of APSTA, said it was a pragmatic step aimed at realising its dream of having a stand-by force for peace-keeping operations in the continent.

Somali pirate Ready to "fight to the death"

NAIROBI, Kenya — Negotiations over the arms-laden freighter hijacked by Somali pirates intensified on Wednesday and several people close to the talks said the showdown had come down to price.
The pirates, who seized the ship last Thursday, initially demanded a $35 million ransom, then dropped it to $20 million and now it seems they are willing to settle for much less.

“It’s down to $5 million,” said Andrew Mwangura, program coordinator for the Seafarers’ Assistance Program in Kenya, which tracks pirate attacks and communicates with the families of crew members. “But this needs to be done quickly. The longer that ship stays in Somalia, the more people who are going to get involved and the greedier they’re going to get.”