300 Foreign Fighters in Somalia

According to this report, a UN envoy has quantified the force of undocumented al-Qaeda-linked guest Islamist fighters in Somalia.

"There is no doubt from many sources covert or overt that there is a significant number of foreign fighters in Somalia from within the continent and outside," UN envoy Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah told reporters in Kenya's capital.

"I have seen figures from UN Security Council documents, submitted by the US where they are estimated to be between 280 and 300," he said.

Fighting between al Shabaab militants -- who admit to having foreigners in their ranks -- and pro-government fighters has killed at least 139 people and sent some 27,000 fleeing the pock-marked, seaside capital since late last week.

Disturbingly, it's also reported that the new arrivals are training the locals on explosives and tactics while landmines, grenade launchers and rockets are being shipped into Somalia from unreported providers. There are so many bad guys, I hesitate to even guess where the arms are coming from.