Gulf of Aden Security Review - June 29, 2010

Yemen: Explosive device found near homes of Taiz governor and police director; President Saleh flies to Russia for security talks; President Saleh holds talks with Egyptian FM and intelligence head

Horn of Africa: Al Shabaab releases English-language video featuring deceased commander, calls on AMISOM troops to withdraw from Somalia; al Shabaab claims victory in Monday Mogadishu fighting, several TFG bases captured; U.S. federal court indicts retired colonel in conspiracy to smuggle weapons to Somalia; Somaliland election commission chairman says votes 90 percent counted; Somali president promotes 22 military officers; clan fighting kills 5 in Puntland

Yemen Security Brief  

• An explosive device was discovered Monday near the homes of Taiz Governor Khalid al Soufi and Taiz Police Director Yahya al Haisami, according to authorities.[1]

• President Saleh arrived in Russia today for security talks with leaders in Moscow, including discussions on counterterrorism and anti-piracy efforts.[2]

• President Saleh met with Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abu al Gheit and Egyptian intelligence head Omar Suleiman to discuss counterterrorism issues during a visit to Cairo this week.[3]

• Al Shabaab’s media arm released an English-language video showing a battle between militants and AMISOM troops, and then calling on Uganda and Burundi to remove their troops from Somalia. The audio clip features Sheikh Aadan Haashi ‘Ayro, who died in a 2008 U.S. airstrike.[4]

• An al Shabaab leader said his group was victorious in Monday’s fighting and captured several TFG bases in northern Mogadishu.[5]

• A U.S. federal court indicted a retired U.S. Air Force colonel for conspiring with an Israeli man to smuggle 2,000 AK-47 assault rifles to Somalia in violation of a U.N. arms embargo. The man, Joseph O’Toole, also faced charges in the late 1980s of conspiracy to smuggle cargo jets to Iran, although federal prosecutors later dropped them.[6]

• The Somaliland election commission chairman announced Monday that 90 percent of votes cast in the presidential election are counted. The final results will be announced later this week.[7]

• Somali president Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed promoted 22 military officers Monday at the Villa Somalia.[8]

• Fighting between clan militias killed five people in Puntland’s Karkar region Monday. The conflict resulted from a dispute over grazing land.[9]