By Mohamed Abdi Farah

Mogadishu, Somalia, 23 April 2007 - Somali’s Prime Minister, Ali Mohammed Gedi, said Monday terrorist cells were responsible for the crisis in southern Somalia opposing the peace and stability in the horn of Africa region.

In a news conference held in the Somalia capital Mogadishu, Mr. Gedi said the fighting in Kismayo, was masterminded by Al-Qaeda members based in Mogadishu.

“Al-Qaeda linked groups from Mogadishu have orchestrated the battle in Kismayo ,” said Gedi.

He added that what he called ‘the terrorists were also responsible for the current fighting in the capital and the other hostilities that took place between Puntland and Somaliland.

Mr. Gedi pointed out that the government troops along with the Ethiopian forces made a breakthrough in the fight with the local insurgents.

“Our national forces together with our neighbor Ethiopian forces have confiscated large quantity of lethal explosives in the areas they have liberated from the Islamist remnants,” added Gedi.

He accused Eritrea of arming and training Islamists in the self-declared authority of Somaliland. “The terrorists who were trained in Somaliland attack the bases under TFG (Transitional Federal Government) administration,” he said.

He also pointed out that international organizations were involved in Somalia violence.

He said some international organizations are busy in arranging false accusations of war crimes in Somalia against Ethiopia.

Meanwhile, the fighting in Mogadishu is continuing for fifth straight day between Ethiopian forces and local insurgents as death toll rises.

Witnesses told Somalinet that five civilians were killed and more than ten were wounded in Shibis and Suq Ba’ad neighborhoods in north of the capital early Monday morning alone.

Non-stop artillery and mortar shells are landing at Jamhuriah neighborhood, north of the capital, as the deafening sounds of the explosions could be throughout the city on Monday.

Source: SomaliNet