Somali Americans protest against Shabbab and suicide bombings

The protesters were supporting President Sheriff´s government

Hundred of people have taken part in peaceful protest against Shabab militants and suicide bombings in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The protest come after fighting and suicide bomb attacks in the past few weeks killed at least a 50 people including Somali Security Minister in Medina Hotel Baladweyne, Somalia. it was the first such a demonstration against Alshabab after Ethiopians withdraw from Somalia seven months ago, where speakers denounced suicide attacks as being against Islam.

Members of Al Qaeda's East Africa the Shabab Islamic wing say they carried out the bombings. It is the forth major suicide bombing this year. More than 13 Burundian Peace keepers were killed and other Somali Solders and civilian people were killed in bombings in Somali Capital Mogadishu in April. the crowd, which was made up mainly of men women, chanted slogans such as "Terrorists are not Muslims" and "the Somali people reject terrorism and support President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed Government

Sunday's protest was organized by the Somali American leaders in twin cities. Sheikh Hassan Mahamud Jaamici was among the speakers and members of The Center For Somali Solutions in Minnesota and many other participants.

"We demonstrated against Ethiopians occupation in Somalia of 2007. Today it is a different group we are protesting, the same people who were fighting against Ethiopians. They are not different from the Ethiopians at this time of the year." Hassan Mohamud told reporters, referring to this year 2009 in which hundreds of civilians were killed and many were displaced in attacks the government blamed on Islamist Shabab. "Somalia is united against terrorism. The period of the intimidation and fear is over," he said.

Conflict broke out in Somalia in 1991 after the fall of General Siad Bare regime. Since then the country divided into fiefdoms ruled by warlords, apposing each other, resulting in a bloody civil war in which more than 150,000 people died.