Boy fighters of Somalia warn of al-Shabab cruelty

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) - The former al-Shabab foot soldiers assigned to a drab cement housing bloc are young — too young. One is only 9, yet they were enforcers of harsh edicts from Islamist militants who are preventing thousands of Somalis from escaping famine. The Associated Press obtained rare access to the former fighters at a government rehabilitation facility in Mogadishu, providing a unique view into the workings of the al-Qaida-linked group whose presence in much of Somalia is stymieing international efforts to provide emergency aid. Millions risk starvation amid Somalia's worst drought in 60 years. The U.N. declared three new regions in Somalia famine zones on Wednesday and said the crisis is likely to spread across all of southern Somalia in coming weeks. Getting aid to the country has been difficult because al-Shabab controls much of the most desperate areas. The hardline militant group routinely recruits young teenagers, kidnapping them from schools and forcibly removing them from homes. Last week, three teenage fighters surrendered to the African Union military force during a military offensive. Full Story>>

Boy fighters of Somalia warn of al-Shabab cruelty http://news.yahoo.com/boy-fighters-somalia-warn-al-shabab-cruelty-203413307.html