Somalia's al-Shabaab islamists have officially declared its alignment with Al-Qaeda during a large gathering of Islamist insurgent leaders.

The group also said that the smaller Islamist outfit Ras Kamboni had agreed to join the al-Shabaab during the meeting, held in the central town of Baidoa. It  said all parties agreed to work towards the creation of an Islamic state.  "The decisions included waging jihad in the Eastern and  Horn of Africa regions in order to liberate the Islamic communities and to link up our jihad to the global one, led by Al-Qaeda and Sheikh Osama Bin Laden," said Sheikh Fuad Mohamed Shangole, a top Shebab leader.

Al-Shabaab control much of southern and central Somalia, while government  forces are pinned back in a small area of Mogadishu where African peacekeepers  are protecting Sharif and a handful of key sites.

"The Holy War in the East and the one in the Horn of Africa have combined their forces and continue as international jihad under the leadership of al-Qaeda", said Sheikh Fuad Mohamed Khalaf, one of the leaders of the al-Shabaab militia. A statement broadcasted on Somali radio also said: "We will soon be founding an Islamic state."

A few weeks ago militia leaders announced their continued support for Islamists in Yemen. Despite being linked to and having the same goal as that of al-Quaeda, Somali Islamist have emphasized to fight independently.

 
 
According to the latest reports from AFP, the UN has declared January as the diedliest month in Somalia. Some 258 civilians were killed in clashes between government troops and rebel militia in central Somalia, the UNHCR said.

"According to local sources, intense clashes between government forces and militia groups fighting for control of the conflict-torn central regions have left at least 258 civilians dead and another 253 wounded, which makes January the deadliest month since last August," said Andrej Mahecic, spokesman of the UN refugees agency.

source: DPA/AFP