Some Somalia to chew on..

Okay, they're all denying it now. Hijacked French Yacht did not anchor in Eyl: Mayor.

The mayor of a small coastal village in northern Somalia dismissed media reports that a French luxury yacht hijacked by pirates on Apr. 4 has anchored near the village of Eyl.

Abdullahi Said O’Yusuf, the mayor of Eyl, told Radio Garowe on Monday that the hijacked French yacht had passed Eyl and headed south towards coastal waters off the region of Mudug, in central Somalia.

(I beg you. If you didn't do this yesterday - take your dramamine and embark on your own little trip to Eyl today. )

Somali officials back assault on Pirates. Sounds like a plan to me.

Somali officials on Monday urged tough action against pirates holding a French yatch after an elite French army unit was placed on standby to intervene if negotiations failed. The local governor in Somalia's breakaway northern region of Puntland, Musa Ghelle Yusuf, said he would be "happy ... to see the pirates killed. The French and American ships must attack the pirates. They have our blessing," Ghelle told AFP by phone, adding that the hijackers have been encouraged by ransoms paid in previous ship seizures. "These pirates are terrorists and there is no need to negotiate with them," Guelleh said. "Attacking them will solve future piracy plans."

Islamists take over another town. I believe this is nine in a row now.

Islamists militants Sunday took control of a Somali trading post after heavy fighting that saw government forces escape into the countryside, an official and witnesses said. The Islamists wrested control of Balad town, 30 kilometres (19 miles) north of the capital Mogadishu, said Mohamed Abshir, a government official. "They took control of the town forcefully after fighting with government forces. There were casualities (sic) but I do not know how many," he told AFP by phone.

Roadside bomb kills six in central Somalia. More attacks on innocent civilians from the Religion of Peace.

Six people were killed Monday when a roadside bomb targeting a government vehicle exploded in central Somalia, witnesses and an official said. "Four people died on the spot and two others died on their way to the hospital," said Osman Adan, who runs a pharmacy near the scene of the explosion. Several other witnesses confirmed the toll in Beledwein, a relatively sleepy regional capital that has escaped much of the bloodletting in the capital Mogadishu. Hiraan regional governor Yusuf Ahmed Hagar blamed Islamist insurgents fighting the government for the attack that also wounded at least 26 people in Beledwein township. "We are very much concerned about the explosion that killed many civilians in Beledwein today. It is unfortunate that insurgents are planting bombs in the civilian sites," Hagar added. Islamists, accused of ties with Muslim extremist groups, have taken control of towns in recent months in an apparent show of determination to regain power across the country.

'al Shabaab are thugs,' says Hawiye Council spokesman. Who's on first? I'm confused.

A controversial clan elder in south Somalia has referred to the country's al Shabaab insurgent group as "thugs" who wrongfully attacked a small town and looted property. Ahmed Dirie, an outspoken critic of Ethiopian troops in Somalia, told a Mogadishu-based radio station Sunday that the al Shabaab insurgents' deadly attack on the town of 'Adado on April 3 was "aimed at hurting a [single] clan."

"There were no government troops in 'Adado but the men who were attacked at the checkpoint [outside ' Adado] were placed there by the clan elders," said Mr. Dirie, who is spokesman for the self-appointed Hawiye Tradition and Unity Council. He called on al Shabaab militants to return looted properties, including military trucks, and to offer blood compensation for the battle's dead victims.

At least 20 people, including 15 government soldiers, were killed in last week's al Shabaab raid on a checkpoint outside the town of 'Adado, in Galgadud region. [ Full story]
-end-