By JEFFREY GETTLEMAN
A second United States senator complained Thursday about American military assistance to Somalia’s government, which the United Nations considers one of the most flagrant users of child soldiers in the world. Senator Russ Feingold, Democrat of Wisconsin, said in a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton that the American government should press the Somali military to halt any use of child soldiers and “until we have that confirmation, I believe it is inappropriate to continue providing the T.F.G. with security assistance.” American officials said they have urged the Somali military not to recruit children but that with few American personnel in Somalia, it is impossible to guarantee this does not happen.
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Thursday, June 17, 2010
PETER ERLINDER TO BE RELEASED
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts: Gena Berglund, International Humanitarian Law Institute of
Minnesota, 651-208-7964; Scott Erlinder, brother of Peter Erlinder,
312-656-6098.
Peter Erlinder received "unconditional medical release" from the
Rwandan court.
Thursday, June 17, 2010 (Washington, DC) – Peter Erlinder, Professor
of Law at William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul, MN and Lead
Defense Counsel at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda
(ICTR) was arrested in Kigali, Rwanda on May 28, 2010. On June 7,
2010, his application for bail was denied.
The U.S. Embassy in Rwanda reported to the family at 10:30 CST that
Peter Erlinder will be allowed to return to the United States, but
charges have not been dropped. Erlinder's attorneys were informed that
he would be receive “unconditional medical release” by the Rwanda
Court. The process has to work it's way through the court and prison
system. Actual release is possible on Friday, June 18. At 10:30 a.m.
CST the attorneys were on their way to the hospital to inform Erlinder
of the decision. Erlinder was not present in the courtroom when the
decision was announced.
Peter Erlinder's family credits the massive outpouring of support and
education of all the various stake holders and thanks each and every
person and organization for their work on behalf of Peter Erlinder.
And the family urges the Rwandan government to drop all charges,
citing the ICTR ruling that Professor Erlinder has diplomatic immunity
because of his work as ICTR defense attorney.
In a two-page letter issued this week the ICTR Office of the Registrar
in Arusha wrote, "The ICTR hereby informs the Rwandan authorities that
Professor Erlinder enjoys immunity and requests, therefore, his
immediate release."1
On June 14, 2010, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton responded
to a question at the Diplomacy Briefing Series Conference on Sub-
Saharan Africa in Washington, DC.
SECRETARY CLINTON: …
We’ve made [those concerns] known to the Rwandan Government. We really
don’t want to see Rwanda undermine its own remarkable progress by
beginning to move away from a lot of the very positive actions that
undergirded its development so effectively. We still are very, very
supportive of Rwanda. ... But we are concerned by some of the recent
actions and we would like to see steps taken to reverse those actions.
On the one hand, I understand the anxiety of the Rwandan leadership
over what they view as genocide denial or genocide rejectionism. There
are many countries that have been in a similar historic position, so I
do understand that and I know that they are hypersensitive to that,
but – because, obviously, they don’t want to see anything ignite any
kind of ethnic conflict again. So I’m very sympathetic to that.
But I think that there are ways of dealing with that legitimate
concern other than politically acting against opposition figures or
lawyers and others. So on the one hand, I understand the motivation
and the concern. On the other hand, I want to see different actions
taken so that we don’t see a collision between what has been a
remarkably successful period of growth and reconciliation and healing
with the imperatives of continuing to build strong democratic
institutions.2
END OF CLINTON'S REMARKS
Contacts: Gena Berglund, International Humanitarian Law Institute of
Minnesota, 651-208-7964; Scott Erlinder, brother of Peter Erlinder,
312-656-6098.
Peter Erlinder received "unconditional medical release" from the
Rwandan court.
Thursday, June 17, 2010 (Washington, DC) – Peter Erlinder, Professor
of Law at William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul, MN and Lead
Defense Counsel at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda
(ICTR) was arrested in Kigali, Rwanda on May 28, 2010. On June 7,
2010, his application for bail was denied.
The U.S. Embassy in Rwanda reported to the family at 10:30 CST that
Peter Erlinder will be allowed to return to the United States, but
charges have not been dropped. Erlinder's attorneys were informed that
he would be receive “unconditional medical release” by the Rwanda
Court. The process has to work it's way through the court and prison
system. Actual release is possible on Friday, June 18. At 10:30 a.m.
CST the attorneys were on their way to the hospital to inform Erlinder
of the decision. Erlinder was not present in the courtroom when the
decision was announced.
Peter Erlinder's family credits the massive outpouring of support and
education of all the various stake holders and thanks each and every
person and organization for their work on behalf of Peter Erlinder.
And the family urges the Rwandan government to drop all charges,
citing the ICTR ruling that Professor Erlinder has diplomatic immunity
because of his work as ICTR defense attorney.
In a two-page letter issued this week the ICTR Office of the Registrar
in Arusha wrote, "The ICTR hereby informs the Rwandan authorities that
Professor Erlinder enjoys immunity and requests, therefore, his
immediate release."1
On June 14, 2010, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton responded
to a question at the Diplomacy Briefing Series Conference on Sub-
Saharan Africa in Washington, DC.
SECRETARY CLINTON: …
We’ve made [those concerns] known to the Rwandan Government. We really
don’t want to see Rwanda undermine its own remarkable progress by
beginning to move away from a lot of the very positive actions that
undergirded its development so effectively. We still are very, very
supportive of Rwanda. ... But we are concerned by some of the recent
actions and we would like to see steps taken to reverse those actions.
On the one hand, I understand the anxiety of the Rwandan leadership
over what they view as genocide denial or genocide rejectionism. There
are many countries that have been in a similar historic position, so I
do understand that and I know that they are hypersensitive to that,
but – because, obviously, they don’t want to see anything ignite any
kind of ethnic conflict again. So I’m very sympathetic to that.
But I think that there are ways of dealing with that legitimate
concern other than politically acting against opposition figures or
lawyers and others. So on the one hand, I understand the motivation
and the concern. On the other hand, I want to see different actions
taken so that we don’t see a collision between what has been a
remarkably successful period of growth and reconciliation and healing
with the imperatives of continuing to build strong democratic
institutions.2
END OF CLINTON'S REMARKS
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Why is Peter Erlinder in Prison in Rwanda?
By Sarah Erlinder
Peter Erlinder, Professor of Law at William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul, MN and lead defense
counsel at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) was arrested in Kigali, Rwanda on May
28, 2010. On June 7, 2010, his application for bail was denied and
he remains in Kigali Central Prison.
Although no indictment has been issued, the bail decision indicates
that Erlinder will be charged under Rwanda’s law “Relating to
Punishment of the Crime of Genocide Ideology”1 for allegedly
denying genocide and addition to spreading rumors capable of
endangering the security of the Rwandan people -- a crime
punishable in Rwanda by up to 20 years' imprisonment.
Among the grounds cited by the court for its decision was his
successful defense before the ICTR of Aloys Ntabakuze, who was acquitted of planning and executing
genocide. The ICTR was created by the United Nations Security Council in 1994 to prosecute accused war
criminals from events in Rwanda in 1994. The tribunal’s spokesman, Roland Amoussouga, stated that,
“ICTR will not allow anyone to be prosecuted for the work that it has done for it.”1 More than 30 ICTR
defense lawyers have called on the tribunal to act on Erlinder’s behalf, saying it is impossible for them to
carry out their missions as zealous advocates for their clients when one of their own is jailed for his work.
The court also referred to articles, press releases and open letters to public officials he had written, calling
for a deeper examination of the events that happened in 1994 and Erlinder’s suggestion that there could be
a different narrative based on factual evidence. Finally, the court noted that Erlinder had filed a wrongful
death lawsuit filed against Rwanda’s president, Paul Kagame, in the Oklahoma federal court under the
Alien Tort Claims Act on behalf of Agathe Habyarimana, the widow of the former Rwandan president.
Erlinder was in the Rwandan capital, Kigali, to represent Victoire Ingabire, chairperson of the United
Democratic Forces political party. Ingabire, who is seeking to run against President Kagame in the 9
August presidential elections, herself has been charged with propagating genocide ideology and ethnic
divisionism.
Erlinder is a former president of the National Lawyers Guild, the first of many human rights and legal
organizations to rally to his defense. The Guild points out that his prosecution reflects more on Rwanda
than it does on Erlinder, saying that “a government that seeks to prevent lawyers from being vigorous
advocates for their clients cannot be trusted.”
The American Bar Association has urged the government of Rwanda to observe the U.N. Basic Principals
on the Role of Lawyers, which state that lawyers “shall not be identified with their clients or their client's
causes as a result of discharging their functions” and that “governments shall ensure that lawyers are able
to perform all of their functions without intimidation, hindrance, harassment or improper influence.”
These principals also provide that “lawyers like other citizens are entitled to freedom of expression, belief,
association and assembly.” Among others who have called for Erlinder’s release are the International
Association of Democratic Lawyers, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and Lawyers
Rights Watch Canada. Paul Rusesabagina, the real-life hero of Hotel Rwanda, has also strongly advocated
for Erlinder’s immediate release.
Find more information www.nlg.org/news/free-peter-erlinder and www.freepeternow.org.
Peter Erlinder, Professor of Law at William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul, MN and lead defense
counsel at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) was arrested in Kigali, Rwanda on May
28, 2010. On June 7, 2010, his application for bail was denied and
he remains in Kigali Central Prison.
Although no indictment has been issued, the bail decision indicates
that Erlinder will be charged under Rwanda’s law “Relating to
Punishment of the Crime of Genocide Ideology”1 for allegedly
denying genocide and addition to spreading rumors capable of
endangering the security of the Rwandan people -- a crime
punishable in Rwanda by up to 20 years' imprisonment.
Among the grounds cited by the court for its decision was his
successful defense before the ICTR of Aloys Ntabakuze, who was acquitted of planning and executing
genocide. The ICTR was created by the United Nations Security Council in 1994 to prosecute accused war
criminals from events in Rwanda in 1994. The tribunal’s spokesman, Roland Amoussouga, stated that,
“ICTR will not allow anyone to be prosecuted for the work that it has done for it.”1 More than 30 ICTR
defense lawyers have called on the tribunal to act on Erlinder’s behalf, saying it is impossible for them to
carry out their missions as zealous advocates for their clients when one of their own is jailed for his work.
The court also referred to articles, press releases and open letters to public officials he had written, calling
for a deeper examination of the events that happened in 1994 and Erlinder’s suggestion that there could be
a different narrative based on factual evidence. Finally, the court noted that Erlinder had filed a wrongful
death lawsuit filed against Rwanda’s president, Paul Kagame, in the Oklahoma federal court under the
Alien Tort Claims Act on behalf of Agathe Habyarimana, the widow of the former Rwandan president.
Erlinder was in the Rwandan capital, Kigali, to represent Victoire Ingabire, chairperson of the United
Democratic Forces political party. Ingabire, who is seeking to run against President Kagame in the 9
August presidential elections, herself has been charged with propagating genocide ideology and ethnic
divisionism.
Erlinder is a former president of the National Lawyers Guild, the first of many human rights and legal
organizations to rally to his defense. The Guild points out that his prosecution reflects more on Rwanda
than it does on Erlinder, saying that “a government that seeks to prevent lawyers from being vigorous
advocates for their clients cannot be trusted.”
The American Bar Association has urged the government of Rwanda to observe the U.N. Basic Principals
on the Role of Lawyers, which state that lawyers “shall not be identified with their clients or their client's
causes as a result of discharging their functions” and that “governments shall ensure that lawyers are able
to perform all of their functions without intimidation, hindrance, harassment or improper influence.”
These principals also provide that “lawyers like other citizens are entitled to freedom of expression, belief,
association and assembly.” Among others who have called for Erlinder’s release are the International
Association of Democratic Lawyers, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and Lawyers
Rights Watch Canada. Paul Rusesabagina, the real-life hero of Hotel Rwanda, has also strongly advocated
for Erlinder’s immediate release.
Find more information www.nlg.org/news/free-peter-erlinder and www.freepeternow.org.
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Rwanda charges US lawyer
A Rwandan judge has charged an American lawyer with denying Rwanda's 1994 genocide and publishing articles that threaten national stability.
Peter Erlinder, who is known for taking on controversial cases, pleaded not guilty at a five-hour hearing in a court in Kigali, the capital, on Friday.
"It is the first time I have come to know that my obscure publications back in America were that bad and could amount to genocide denial," Erlinder said at the hearing.
"I believed the country has grown democratically, but if I am detained and prosecuted, my case will confirm what is being said out there."
He indicated that the charges may have arisen due to misunderstanding or misinterpretation.
Genocide court
He could face up to 25 years in prison if convicted. The judge said that he will decide on Monday whether Erlinder will be granted bail.
Erlinder was arrested on May 28, several days after flying into Rwanda to defend Victoire Ingabire, a presidential candidate in the country's upcoming August 9 elections.
"It is the first time I have come to know that my obscure publications back in America ... could amount to genocide denial"
Peter Erlinder, US lawyer
Ingabire was arrested in April on charges of promoting genocide ideology, and later released on bail.
Erlinder is the head of a group of defence lawyers at the UN's International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) that is trying suspected leaders of the 1994 genocide in which an estimated 800,000 people, mostly Tutsis and moderate Hutus, died.
He is defending a suspected genocide mastermind at the ICTR and has previously accused its prosecution of hiding the crimes committed by the Rwandan Patriotic Front, led by Paul Kagame, the incumbent president.
Kagame headed the group of mostly Tutsi fighters to defeat mostly Hutus fighters behind the slayings.
Hospitalisation
Erlinder has requested bail to return to the US and receive treatment for injuries.
He asserted that he had not been maltreated in prison but had also not had contact with another person including family members and his doctor.
He said that he would comply with any bail conditions.
On Tuesday, Erlinder was hospitalised after police said he had attempted suicide by taking dozens of pills. However, Erlinder's family has disputed the suicide attempt claim.
On Thursday, the US called for Erlinder to be released on compassionate and humanitarian grounds.
"We are pressing the Rwandan government to resolve this case quickly, and we would like to see him released on compassionate grounds," Philip Crowley, a state department spokesman, said.
Peter Erlinder, who is known for taking on controversial cases, pleaded not guilty at a five-hour hearing in a court in Kigali, the capital, on Friday.
"It is the first time I have come to know that my obscure publications back in America were that bad and could amount to genocide denial," Erlinder said at the hearing.
"I believed the country has grown democratically, but if I am detained and prosecuted, my case will confirm what is being said out there."
He indicated that the charges may have arisen due to misunderstanding or misinterpretation.
Genocide court
He could face up to 25 years in prison if convicted. The judge said that he will decide on Monday whether Erlinder will be granted bail.
Erlinder was arrested on May 28, several days after flying into Rwanda to defend Victoire Ingabire, a presidential candidate in the country's upcoming August 9 elections.
"It is the first time I have come to know that my obscure publications back in America ... could amount to genocide denial"
Peter Erlinder, US lawyer
Ingabire was arrested in April on charges of promoting genocide ideology, and later released on bail.
Erlinder is the head of a group of defence lawyers at the UN's International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) that is trying suspected leaders of the 1994 genocide in which an estimated 800,000 people, mostly Tutsis and moderate Hutus, died.
He is defending a suspected genocide mastermind at the ICTR and has previously accused its prosecution of hiding the crimes committed by the Rwandan Patriotic Front, led by Paul Kagame, the incumbent president.
Kagame headed the group of mostly Tutsi fighters to defeat mostly Hutus fighters behind the slayings.
Hospitalisation
Erlinder has requested bail to return to the US and receive treatment for injuries.
He asserted that he had not been maltreated in prison but had also not had contact with another person including family members and his doctor.
He said that he would comply with any bail conditions.
On Tuesday, Erlinder was hospitalised after police said he had attempted suicide by taking dozens of pills. However, Erlinder's family has disputed the suicide attempt claim.
On Thursday, the US called for Erlinder to be released on compassionate and humanitarian grounds.
"We are pressing the Rwandan government to resolve this case quickly, and we would like to see him released on compassionate grounds," Philip Crowley, a state department spokesman, said.
Niger Delta: an Exxon Valdez every year for 50 years
Submitted by WW4 Report
From a June 4 op-ed in the International Herald Tribune by Anene Ejikeme, "The Oil Spills We Don't Hear About":
Experts estimate that some 13 million barrels of oil have been spilt in the Niger Delta since oil exploration began in 1958. This is the equivalent of one Exxon Valdez every year for 50 years.
Although the Obama administration has come under much criticism for not responding quickly enough, nor adequately, to the BP oil spill, there is no denying that top government officials, including the president himself, have felt compelled to speak about the spill and to insist that BP will be held accountable.
How differently things play out in Nigeria. Not only does the Nigerian government usually not bother to issue statements, it never feels compelled to decry such spills.
Even more striking, perhaps, is the very different ways in which the international media deals with oil spills. Of course, it is entirely appropriate that the U.S. media have been giving constant coverage to the BP Gulf spill.
But it is not just the U.S. media that have been covering the Gulf disaster with great dedication... I would be willing to bet that even residents of the smallest Nigerian villages have heard about the Gulf oil spill. By contrast, I know few people in the United States who have heard about the oil spills in the Niger Delta. Yet Nigeria is among the top five suppliers of oil to the U.S.
The Niger Delta, which is home to more than 30 million people and is considered one of the world’s most important ecosystems, produces almost all of Nigeria's foreign exchange earnings.
Dead fish and oily water are part of daily life for Niger Delta residents, as are gas flares... There is a law against gas flaring in Nigeria, but it continues to be widely breached.
Oil companies operate in Nigeria with little or no oversight from the government. It must be noted that the government has part ownership in the subsidiaries of all the oil multinationals which operate in Nigeria.
A year ago, Amnesty International published a report, “Petroleum, Pollution and Poverty in the Niger Delta.” The report focused on Royal Dutch Shell because Shell is by far the largest operator in the Delta. According to the Oil Spill Intelligence Report, a 10-year study commissioned by Greenpeace, although Shell operates in more than 100 countries, 40 percent of all its oil spills happen in Nigeria.
From a June 4 op-ed in the International Herald Tribune by Anene Ejikeme, "The Oil Spills We Don't Hear About":
Experts estimate that some 13 million barrels of oil have been spilt in the Niger Delta since oil exploration began in 1958. This is the equivalent of one Exxon Valdez every year for 50 years.
Although the Obama administration has come under much criticism for not responding quickly enough, nor adequately, to the BP oil spill, there is no denying that top government officials, including the president himself, have felt compelled to speak about the spill and to insist that BP will be held accountable.
How differently things play out in Nigeria. Not only does the Nigerian government usually not bother to issue statements, it never feels compelled to decry such spills.
Even more striking, perhaps, is the very different ways in which the international media deals with oil spills. Of course, it is entirely appropriate that the U.S. media have been giving constant coverage to the BP Gulf spill.
But it is not just the U.S. media that have been covering the Gulf disaster with great dedication... I would be willing to bet that even residents of the smallest Nigerian villages have heard about the Gulf oil spill. By contrast, I know few people in the United States who have heard about the oil spills in the Niger Delta. Yet Nigeria is among the top five suppliers of oil to the U.S.
The Niger Delta, which is home to more than 30 million people and is considered one of the world’s most important ecosystems, produces almost all of Nigeria's foreign exchange earnings.
Dead fish and oily water are part of daily life for Niger Delta residents, as are gas flares... There is a law against gas flaring in Nigeria, but it continues to be widely breached.
Oil companies operate in Nigeria with little or no oversight from the government. It must be noted that the government has part ownership in the subsidiaries of all the oil multinationals which operate in Nigeria.
A year ago, Amnesty International published a report, “Petroleum, Pollution and Poverty in the Niger Delta.” The report focused on Royal Dutch Shell because Shell is by far the largest operator in the Delta. According to the Oil Spill Intelligence Report, a 10-year study commissioned by Greenpeace, although Shell operates in more than 100 countries, 40 percent of all its oil spills happen in Nigeria.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Deaths in Mogadishu attack
Somalia's al-Shabab, the armed anti-government group, has attacked the presidential palace in Mogadishu, leaving at least 14 civilians dead, officials and witnesses say.
Government forces backed by African Union troops retaliated on Saturday against the fighters, whose attack came as Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, the Somali president, was attending a conference in Turkey.
Al-Shabab, which has been fighting to topple Somalia's government, launched its main attack on the northern Shibis and Bondhere neighbourhoods of the seaside capital late on Saturday.
After a brief lull, the battle resumed at dawn on Sunday.
"The number of civilians killed during the clashes overnight has reached 11 and it could be higher, because the violent militants using mortars attacked several other positions in southern Mogadishu this morning," Mohamed Ali Idle, a Somali government security official, told the AFP news agency.
'Heavy fighting'
The victims included five members of the same family who were killed when a mortar shell struck their home, several witnesses told AFP.
"The fighting was very heavy here in Bondhere and Shibis. Many people died and I saw five family members who were killed when a mortar round struck their house. Several others were also injured," Abdirahman Ise, a local resident, said.
"I'm also hearing that several other civilians were killed in the crossfire in the neighbourhood. Unfortunately the fighting continued and there was no transport to collect the wounded overnight."
At least three other civilians were killed and 25 wounded as a result of an exchange of mortar fire in the southern neighbourhoods of Holwadag and Black Sea, Ali Muse, head of Mogadishu's ambulance services, told AFP.
Al-Shabab's offensive began when its units moved down from their stronghold towards Kilometre Zero, a strategic crossroads leading towards the port and the presidential compound, according to witnesses and officials.
Major Ba-Hoku Barigye, a spokesman for the African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom), said al-Shabab's progress required immediate action.
"People need to understand what our mandate is; We are here to protect the transitional federal institutions of Somalia and we also have red lines. If our forces are endangered, they have the right to protect themselves," he said.
Hundreds of civilians have died this year as a result of both al-Shabab attacks and retaliatory fire by Amisom or government forces.
Thousands have been killed in such incidents over the past three years and hundreds of thousands have been forced out of the city into crowded camps.
Al-Shabab controls most of southern and central Somalia, but it has failed to reach the well-protected presidential compound and topple Ahmed.
The US state department says al-Shabab has links to al-Qaeda.
Success claimed
Sheikh Ali Mohamoud Rage, the group's senior spokesman, claimed on Sunday that its fighters had killed dozens of government forces.
"Our fighters attacked several positions controlled by the apostate government soldiers. We killed dozens of them and took control of their barracks overnight," he said.
Ahmed was elected in January 2009 but has since failed to assert his authority and to prevent the expansion of al-Shabab.
He is also facing dissent within his own government.
He is currently in Istanbul for an international conference aimed at bolstering support for his transitional institutions and drafting a road map to peace.
On the opening day of the conference on Saturday, Ban Ki-moon, the UN secretary-general, told delegates from 55 nations and 12 international organisations that "the only way to restore stability is to support this government in its reconciliation effort and its fight against extremism."
"If the international community acts now, I think it can make the difference," he said.
Somalia has had no effective government for 19 years and Western nations and neighbours say the country is used as a shelter by fighters planning attacks in East Africa and further afield.
Government forces backed by African Union troops retaliated on Saturday against the fighters, whose attack came as Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, the Somali president, was attending a conference in Turkey.
Al-Shabab, which has been fighting to topple Somalia's government, launched its main attack on the northern Shibis and Bondhere neighbourhoods of the seaside capital late on Saturday.
After a brief lull, the battle resumed at dawn on Sunday.
"The number of civilians killed during the clashes overnight has reached 11 and it could be higher, because the violent militants using mortars attacked several other positions in southern Mogadishu this morning," Mohamed Ali Idle, a Somali government security official, told the AFP news agency.
'Heavy fighting'
The victims included five members of the same family who were killed when a mortar shell struck their home, several witnesses told AFP.
"The fighting was very heavy here in Bondhere and Shibis. Many people died and I saw five family members who were killed when a mortar round struck their house. Several others were also injured," Abdirahman Ise, a local resident, said.
"I'm also hearing that several other civilians were killed in the crossfire in the neighbourhood. Unfortunately the fighting continued and there was no transport to collect the wounded overnight."
At least three other civilians were killed and 25 wounded as a result of an exchange of mortar fire in the southern neighbourhoods of Holwadag and Black Sea, Ali Muse, head of Mogadishu's ambulance services, told AFP.
Al-Shabab's offensive began when its units moved down from their stronghold towards Kilometre Zero, a strategic crossroads leading towards the port and the presidential compound, according to witnesses and officials.
Major Ba-Hoku Barigye, a spokesman for the African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom), said al-Shabab's progress required immediate action.
"People need to understand what our mandate is; We are here to protect the transitional federal institutions of Somalia and we also have red lines. If our forces are endangered, they have the right to protect themselves," he said.
Hundreds of civilians have died this year as a result of both al-Shabab attacks and retaliatory fire by Amisom or government forces.
Thousands have been killed in such incidents over the past three years and hundreds of thousands have been forced out of the city into crowded camps.
Al-Shabab controls most of southern and central Somalia, but it has failed to reach the well-protected presidential compound and topple Ahmed.
The US state department says al-Shabab has links to al-Qaeda.
Success claimed
Sheikh Ali Mohamoud Rage, the group's senior spokesman, claimed on Sunday that its fighters had killed dozens of government forces.
"Our fighters attacked several positions controlled by the apostate government soldiers. We killed dozens of them and took control of their barracks overnight," he said.
Ahmed was elected in January 2009 but has since failed to assert his authority and to prevent the expansion of al-Shabab.
He is also facing dissent within his own government.
He is currently in Istanbul for an international conference aimed at bolstering support for his transitional institutions and drafting a road map to peace.
On the opening day of the conference on Saturday, Ban Ki-moon, the UN secretary-general, told delegates from 55 nations and 12 international organisations that "the only way to restore stability is to support this government in its reconciliation effort and its fight against extremism."
"If the international community acts now, I think it can make the difference," he said.
Somalia has had no effective government for 19 years and Western nations and neighbours say the country is used as a shelter by fighters planning attacks in East Africa and further afield.
France backs Africa for UN seat
The French president has said Africa should be represented on the UN Security Council, promising to back changes when France leads the G8 and G20 groups of big economies next year.
Speaking on Monday at the launch of the 25th Africa-France summit in the French city of Nice, Nicolas Sarkozy said it was time for the world to make a place for Africa on the global stage to discuss international crises and overhaul.
"I am convinced that we can't talk about big global questions without Africa any longer," Sarkozy told about 800 delegates from 40 African states.
He said it was "not normal" that no African country had a permanent seat on the Security Council.
African nations have been asking for two rotating permanent seats with veto power as well as more non-permanent seats since 2005, given the continent has about 27 per cent of members at the UN, its size and the involvement of global powers on its territory.
France is pushing for a change proposed previously with the UK whereby non-permanent membership on the Security Council would be raised to 10 years instead of two now, without the right of veto, a French diplomatic source said.
China, the US, Russia, Britain and France are the permanent members of the Security Council.
Nigeria, Gabon and Uganda are among 10 members that hold rotating seats.
'Summit of renewal'
The Nice gathering has been touted as a "summit of renewal" and Sarkozy stressed that France needed to look to the future instead of "perpetuating the illusion of an outdated role".
This Africa-France summit is Sarkozy's first since taking office in 2007 and reflects France's shift away from its traditional West African allies towards engagement with the continent as a whole.
France is seeking to use the two-day gathering as a springboard for business deals.
"Africa is our future and will be a principle reservoir for world economic growth in the decades to come," Sarkozy said.
Alain Joyandet, France's development minister, said it would be "the summit of renewal, a sort of launch of a new era".
Breaking away from tradition, France has invited nearly 200 business leaders from France and Africa to this year's summit including heads of big French companies such as energy giant Total and nuclear firm Areva.
The push on the economic front comes as France has taken a back seat to China, Africa's biggest trade partner, which has injected billions over the past decade to tap into raw materials needed to fuel its hungry economy.
Speaking on Monday at the launch of the 25th Africa-France summit in the French city of Nice, Nicolas Sarkozy said it was time for the world to make a place for Africa on the global stage to discuss international crises and overhaul.
"I am convinced that we can't talk about big global questions without Africa any longer," Sarkozy told about 800 delegates from 40 African states.
He said it was "not normal" that no African country had a permanent seat on the Security Council.
African nations have been asking for two rotating permanent seats with veto power as well as more non-permanent seats since 2005, given the continent has about 27 per cent of members at the UN, its size and the involvement of global powers on its territory.
France is pushing for a change proposed previously with the UK whereby non-permanent membership on the Security Council would be raised to 10 years instead of two now, without the right of veto, a French diplomatic source said.
China, the US, Russia, Britain and France are the permanent members of the Security Council.
Nigeria, Gabon and Uganda are among 10 members that hold rotating seats.
'Summit of renewal'
The Nice gathering has been touted as a "summit of renewal" and Sarkozy stressed that France needed to look to the future instead of "perpetuating the illusion of an outdated role".
This Africa-France summit is Sarkozy's first since taking office in 2007 and reflects France's shift away from its traditional West African allies towards engagement with the continent as a whole.
France is seeking to use the two-day gathering as a springboard for business deals.
"Africa is our future and will be a principle reservoir for world economic growth in the decades to come," Sarkozy said.
Alain Joyandet, France's development minister, said it would be "the summit of renewal, a sort of launch of a new era".
Breaking away from tradition, France has invited nearly 200 business leaders from France and Africa to this year's summit including heads of big French companies such as energy giant Total and nuclear firm Areva.
The push on the economic front comes as France has taken a back seat to China, Africa's biggest trade partner, which has injected billions over the past decade to tap into raw materials needed to fuel its hungry economy.
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