Somalia beefs up security over terror threats

Somalia authorities said they have beefed up security in Mogadishu, following intelligence reports that the Al-Qaida affiliate Al-Shabaab is planning to launch massive attacks in the city.

A spokesman at the security ministry Mohamed Yusuf told journalists late on Saturday that the government had dispatched hundreds of police teams in various parts of the city as a security measure following the reports.

"We have deployed dozens of security officers round the city to thwart any attempts by the militant group Al-Shabaab," he said.

This follows credible intelligence that they are planning to attack parts of the city. "We have also enhanced security in government buildings across the city," Yusuf said.

However, he did not mention any specific target areas by Al- Shabaab, but said the officers were also doing house to house search in city estates to foil the planned attacks.

Yusuf added that the police are also stationed in most roads in Mogadishu, conducting checks on cars entering and leaving the city.

The security measures come close to a month after a huge explosion in a city hotel and mosque killed 28 people and injured 54 others. Two lawmakers and a deputy governor were among the dead which also injured the deputy prime minister.

Mogadishu resident Hirsi Nor welcomed the government's efforts to secure the city. "Despite the inconveniences we encounter in such operations, we are happy to work with the government because our security is paramount," Nor told Xinhua.

The militant group Al-Shabaab has largely been defeated by joint government and African Union backed force AMISOM, but has been able to carry out major attacks in the city including the December attack in the heavily fortified AMISOM base in Mogadishu. Endi