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A Somali Islamist fighter from Hispul Islam patrols an empty street in Wardigkey, in Mogadishu - Source: Reuters -
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A senior member of Somalia's Islamist insurgent movement al
Shabaab threatened to invade Kenya if it did not reduce its
military presence on the Somali border.
The rebels, who control parts of south Somalia close to Kenya, have
long resented Nairobi's support for the Western-backed government
in Mogadishu.
Kenya, fearful of flows of people and arms across its border and
mindful of past attacks in the region planned from Somalia, keeps a
heavy military presence in its remote north.
"We shall invade Kenya if it does not stop its military movement
along the Somalia-Kenya border towns," said Sheikh Abdiqani
Mohamed, vice-governor of the southern port of Kismayu which al
Shabaab captured in mid-2008.
"We cannot bear the aggression of Kenya. What is its military doing
near Dhobley and our other towns in southern Somalia?" he said.
"If Kenya does not stop this, our troops will cross the border
and fight inside their country."
Al Shabaab controls some areas of Mogadishu and is resisting a push
by President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed's security forces to drive its
fighters out of town.
In the provinces, it is fighting a pro-government moderate
Islamist militia, with towns and territory often changing
hands.
Kenya's government has tried to reassure citizens and expatriates
amid fears of attacks in Nairobi and security warnings circulating
among foreign diplomats.
Noting the deteriorating security situation in Somalia, Foreign
Minister Moses Wetangula said on Wednesday that diplomatic police
were on "high alert."
Western security services say al Shabaab is a Somali proxy for
Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda network.
That view was echoed by a former rebel hardliner who defected a
few weeks ago and took his fighters over the government side.
"Osama bin Laden wants to make his biggest base in Somalia," Sheikh
Yusuf Mohamed Siad, known as "Inda'ade" or "white eyes", said
recently.
"He believes his criminal organisation can sweep African regimes
and take over Africa as part of their greater ambition."
He said al Qaeda's plan was to dominate the seas.
"Al Qaeda plans to cut off the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden which
is a main route connecting all continents together. And if they
achieve that, it is big threat to global security ... If al Qaeda
gets a base here, it will be a disaster.
"This issue needs an international solution, and the world and
Somalia must fight on one front."
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