Mogadishu.Sunatimes- The Al Qaeda-proxy in Somalia, Al shabab militants on Tuesday told people in areas under their control to be part of the fighting against Somali government and AU troops in the country.

Top Al shabab militia commander announced today that people are obliged to fight along side them or other wise they will not be considered as real Muslims.

One of the groupfs high-ranking leaders Sheik Abu Musab who was talking to worshipers at a mosque in the militant hotbed Bakara market On Tuesday said that any Muslim one is ordered to take part in the combat operations against Somali government and African Union peacekeepers in Mogadishu.

"People must fight--we want every teenage person to fight for at least six hours a day and those who canft, must contribute money to the on going war in Somalia against the invading infidels, this is a decision and will not be reversed" the militant leader said.

Sheik Abu Musab added that what he called the holly war is obligation on all Muslims and who ever refuses to be a holly warrior will be punished for his/ her refusal to fight for Islam.

For the past few days there has been speculation that Alshabab militants are planning to force young men in the regions under their control to take part in the fight against Somali government.

"I donft want to be compelled to fight and to escape from such danger, I am planning to move from here to a secure place in the country" a 24 year old Mohamed Farah said in a telephone conversation. Mohamed is now living in the Suqa Holaha village north of Mogadishu where Al shabab are more powerful.

For the past three and a half years fighting has been escalating between AU peacekeepers and Somali government forces on one side and Islamist militants on the other side and as the result more than 22,000 civilians were killed while over 1.5 million others fled from their homes in the restive city since then.