If anybody interested in Somalia news then here is a story blacked out by the western media, I followed the story for two weeks on Arabic websites and forums:
A little bit late but at last All Africa reported the story few days ago:
American Soldiers Seized in Southern Region, Arab And Western Diplomats Say
There have been mounting reports that numbers of American soldiers were missing in southern Somalia following the recent US air operations on the Islamist and al-Qaeda hideouts in southern jungles of the country
Today, a misleading news headline spreading by news agencies
Somali Islamist leader out of custody
Sheikh Sharif Ahmed is not in custody, he is a five stars hotel in Kenya negotiating the US prisoners issue with American ambassador.
And that is confirmed by Qatari newspaper Al-Sharq today:
Washington does not object that Sheikh Sharif Ahmed the leader of the Islamic courts the presidency of Somalia via elections but in condition to make the courts a political party and the annunciation of rejecting violence and extremism.
Also added:
Failure of 4 rounds negotiation between the American ambassador in Kenya and Sheikh Sharif on the release of 11 American prisoners.
This is not the only source, the same was said on Al-Arabiya, Al-Khaleej, as why the negotiations failed:
Sheikh Sharif required exit of Ethiopian forces from all Somali territories, and to stop American military operations in southern Somalia.
The most important condition put by the “Islamic Courts”:
The Americans most announce publicly to the whole world that there are 11 American soldiers taken prisoner by the “Islamic Courts” forces in southern Somalia during ground operations carried out by American forces.
P.S.
Take it from me before you hear it form other sources they were 12 US soldiers, one of them died because of his wounds.
Related:
Follow the oil drops in Somalia