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| Somali radical takes over militia | |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| The head of Somali Islamist armed group Hisbul-Islam has passed the leadership to radical cleric Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys, who is on the US terror list. | |
| Omar Abubakar said he had not come under any pressure to hand over. | Omar Abubakar said he had not come under any pressure to hand over. |
| Mr Aweys, who returned from exile last month, has urged Somalis to oppose the unity government led by his ex-ally President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed. | Mr Aweys, who returned from exile last month, has urged Somalis to oppose the unity government led by his ex-ally President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed. |
| It came as Mogadishu's main hospital said it could barely cope with the flood of wounded amid recent bloodshed. | It came as Mogadishu's main hospital said it could barely cope with the flood of wounded amid recent bloodshed. |
| Dr Mohamed Yusuf told the BBC that the 60-bed Medina Hospital was bursting at the seams with patients and many had to lie in tents in the corridors. | Dr Mohamed Yusuf told the BBC that the 60-bed Medina Hospital was bursting at the seams with patients and many had to lie in tents in the corridors. |
| He said more than 200 casualties had been admitted amid a recent upsurge in clashes. | He said more than 200 casualties had been admitted amid a recent upsurge in clashes. |
| Pro-government forces and militant Islamic groups - Hisbul-Islam and al-Shabab - have been locked in battles that have displaced more than 60,000 civilians since 7 May. | Pro-government forces and militant Islamic groups - Hisbul-Islam and al-Shabab - have been locked in battles that have displaced more than 60,000 civilians since 7 May. |
| The BBC's Mohamed Olad Hassan in Mogadishu says the capital was quiet on Wednesday after two weeks of almost continual fighting. | The BBC's Mohamed Olad Hassan in Mogadishu says the capital was quiet on Wednesday after two weeks of almost continual fighting. |
| Peacekeeper renewal | Peacekeeper renewal |
| Hisbul-Islam was formed after Mr Ahmed become president in January, with Mr Aweys as its spiritual leader. | Hisbul-Islam was formed after Mr Ahmed become president in January, with Mr Aweys as its spiritual leader. |
| Islamist militiamen control large swathes of territory in Somalia | Islamist militiamen control large swathes of territory in Somalia |
| President Ahmed's introduction of Sharia law to the strongly Muslim country has not appeased the radical guerrillas, who have sworn to topple the administration and impose a stricter version of Islamic law. | President Ahmed's introduction of Sharia law to the strongly Muslim country has not appeased the radical guerrillas, who have sworn to topple the administration and impose a stricter version of Islamic law. |
| Mr Aweys fled to Eritrea in 2007 after Ethiopian troops ousted his movement, the Union of Islamic Courts, which he led with Mr Ahmed. | Mr Aweys fled to Eritrea in 2007 after Ethiopian troops ousted his movement, the Union of Islamic Courts, which he led with Mr Ahmed. |
| He split from the more moderate Mr Ahmed after the latter agreed to UN-led peace talks that brought him to power as president in January and saw Ethiopian troops pull out. | He split from the more moderate Mr Ahmed after the latter agreed to UN-led peace talks that brought him to power as president in January and saw Ethiopian troops pull out. |
| He accuses President Ahmed and the unity government of being unelected and unrepresentative and wants African Union peacekeeping troops to leave the country. | He accuses President Ahmed and the unity government of being unelected and unrepresentative and wants African Union peacekeeping troops to leave the country. |
| The UN Security Council has voted unanimously to extend the mandate of the 4,300-strong AU mission in Somalia for eight months, and to provide more stable financing. | The UN Security Council has voted unanimously to extend the mandate of the 4,300-strong AU mission in Somalia for eight months, and to provide more stable financing. |
| John Sawers, the British ambassador at the UN, said this would cost between $200m and $300m. | John Sawers, the British ambassador at the UN, said this would cost between $200m and $300m. |
| The council also urged member states to fund, and provide training for, the Somali military and police so that they can play a greater role in providing security. | The council also urged member states to fund, and provide training for, the Somali military and police so that they can play a greater role in providing security. |
| Somalia, a nation of about eight million people, has experienced almost constant conflict since the collapse of its central government in January 1991. | Somalia, a nation of about eight million people, has experienced almost constant conflict since the collapse of its central government in January 1991. |