MOGADISHU (Sunatimes)-Somalia’s hardline Alshabaab group have denied that they were heading towards the pirates- haven town of Xaradheere, local media reported Wednesday.

Shaykh Yusuf Shaykh Isse, a senior militant leader of Alshabaab has said his group "went close to the pirates’ zone of Haradheere, but there were no plans to go into it". He however denied having "any kind of relations with the pirates"

“We have no plans to attack or go into Haradheere” Isse told local Shabelle radio by phone after his troops seized a nearby Eldher town from moderate Islamists over the weekend.

Somali pirates were earlier reported to be relocating from Haradheere to nearby coastal town of Hobyo fearing Al-Shabab attacks.

Alshabaab had recently been making gains in the central Somali region of Galgaduud after successfully ousting their rival group, Ahlu Sunnah wal Jama'a from key towns in the region.

The horn of Africa nation has been without central government since1991 after clan militias and warlords overthrown the dictatorregime of Siad Barre that lastly leashed out constant violence for more than 20 years.

Copyright: Sunatimes

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