Somali Islamic group, Alshabab denies fighting Ahlu-Sunna wal Jamaa'a

Shiikh Mukhtaar Roobow Abuu Mansuur recently denied reports that the clashes were between two Islamic groups.

There has been reports of fighting among Islamic insurgents Al-Shabab and rival Islamic group Ahlu Sunna Wal jamaa'a, as they battled for central towns Guri'el and Dhusa Mareb in the Galguduud state of Somalia. Numerous reports surfaced that Ahlu Sunna Wal Jama'a Islamic fighters recently took back control of Guri'el from Al-Shabab late December 2008.

The most recent reports of Somali fighters Al-Shabaab, reportedly getting forced out of a central town by the local Ahl-ul-Sunna wal-Jamaa militia they had recently ousted, were published on International news web sites. As recent as January 3rd, the two sides continued their combat in Guri'el and Dhusa Mareb. However, the Alshabab group formally denies them.

The Alshabab spokesman Shiikh Mukhtaar Roobow Abuu Mansuur recently denied reports that the clashes were between two Islamic groups. He said that the two sides did not engage in battle or combat, and rather blamed the Ethiopians for arming a separate group of fighters that are claiming to be of Ahlu Sunna Wal Jama'a.

The Alshabab spokesman also commented on the take over of ICU soldiers of the TFG police stations in Mogadishu. He encouraged the ICU fighters to point their guns at the Ethiopian troops and not busy themselves on taking over empty compounds.

The Islamic insurgents of Alshabab is the most powerful group out of the numerous anti-government groups, and control the majority of Somali cities, where they commonly rule them on Islam Shari'ah law.