Explosion occurs outside al-Shabaab base in Afgoye; East African leaders urge Ethiopian support to fight al Shabaab; Deputy PM-led Turkish delegation arrives in Somalia; UN downgrades famine alert in three regions of Somalia; Fresh fighting starts in cent
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    According to reports, people have fled the Somali town of Afgoye after an explosion, which al-Shabaab insurgents said, was caused by a missile strike on one of its bases. Somali military officials said they were trying to find out what caused the blast. Regional news agencies reported that senior al-Shabaab commanders had been killed in the explosion, although it was not confirmed.1

    In another development, in a meeting by Ethiopian, Kenyan, Djiboutian and Somali leaders in Addis Ababa, East African leaders have urged Ethiopia to support Kenyan, African Union and Somali troops fighting Islamist al Shabaab rebels. Earlier, Ethiopian troops were reported to have crossed into neighbouring Somalia. However, Addis Ababa denied having deployed soldiers. Nevertheless, Ethiopia's Foreign Affairs spokesman Dina Mufti said his country's support could be "military, political, diplomatic or otherwise."2

    Reports noted that a high level delegation from Turkey heading by the deputy Turkish Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag arrived in Mogadishu for talks with senior officials. The delegation was received in Mogadishu by the prime minister of Somalia Transitional federal government Abdiweli Mohamed Ali and members his cabinet ministers. Turkey has been in the forefront in the international effort to assist Somalia following the drought and the resultant famine that struck the south of the war-ravaged country.3

    According to reports, the United Nations Food Security Nutrition Analysis Unit lifted its "famine" designation for three regions of Bakool, Bay and Lower Shabelle in Somalia however, the humanitarian situation remains dire. Meanwhile, South Africa began airlifting 264 tons of Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states' food assistance to Mogadishu via Nairobi. In a statement released by South Africa's Department of International Relations and Cooperation, spokesman Clayson Monyela said, "Out of concern about the current situation in Somalia, SADC Member States, at the 31st Ordinary SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government in August 2011, passed the 'Declaration in Solidarity with the People and Government of Somalia on the Famine Situation Affecting the Country'."4

    In other developments, according to reports, heavy fighting with mortar shells between fighters loyal to Ahlu Sunna Waljama and Al-shabaab militants started in the town of Dhusa Mareb of Galgadud region in central Somalia. The battle began after Al-shabaab militants launched an ambush attack on Ahlu sunna Waljama base in Dhusa Mareb town, causing unspecified casualties on both warring sides and civilians in the area of the combat.5

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