NAIROBI,  – Nearly two years after being driven from Mogadishu, Islamists have re-taken swathes of south Somalia and may have their sights again on the capital.

The insurgents’ push is being led by Al Shabaab, or “Youth” in Arabic, the most militant in a wide array of groups opposed to the Somali government and military backers from Ethiopia, an ally in Washington’s “War on Terror”. More on ANALYSIS-Somali fighters take upper hand in Somalia

As fighting rages on in the Somali capital Mogadishu, international stakeholders in Somalia are urging the country’s transitional federal government and an Islamist-led opposition faction to implement a cease-fire agreement outlined in a recently-signed peace deal. But as VOA Correspondent Alisha Ryu reports from our East Africa Bureau in Nairobi, the deal is now viewed as being too weak to produce any results. More on Analysts Say Somalia Peace Deal Too Weak

I appreciated State’s prompt response to the question I posed on the Department’s compliance with the Foreign Assistance Act at the hearing. However, I am disappointed that despite acknowledging security forces in Chad and Ethiopia are reported to have committed abuses, the response asserted without any reservation or justification that there is not a consistent pattern of gross violations of internationally recognized human rights in these countries. This claim contradicts the State Department’s own annual country reports.

Obama should not fall for McCain’s poor excuse to skip the Friday night debate & should just attend the event without him! McCain is running away because he’s tanking even in the Fox New’s polls & he’s terrified that Obama will link national security & foreign policy to economic security. In short McCain knows that he cannot win this debate. Buh bye bye John McCain because this gimmick just sealed your fate!

Renewed fighting has broken out in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, with African Union peacekeepers coming under attack from Islamist insurgents.

At least seven civilians are reported to have been killed since the clashes erupted late on Tuesday.

Insurgents attacked Ugandan peacekeepers, who responded with tank and artillery fire. More on Fresh violence in Somali capital

Democrat Takes 52-43 Lead Among Likely Voters, Erases Republican’s Post-Palin Pick Gains

Turmoil in the financial industry and growing pessimism about the economy have altered the shape of the presidential race, giving Democratic nominee Barack Obama the first clear lead of the general-election campaign over Republican John McCain, according to the latest Washington Post-ABC News national poll.

A group monitoring corruption levels around the world says illegal practices in poor countries are threatening the fight against poverty. In its just released report, Transparency International says foreign aid must be more focused and more carefully monitored to ensure it goes where intended. VOA’s Sonja Pace has details from London. More on Report: Corruption in Poor Countries Threatens Fight Against Poverty

Two aid workers working for Medecins du Monde in Ethiopia have been abducted from the Ogaden region that borders Somalia, the French aid agency says.

Eyewitnesses say the man and woman, whose nationalities are not known, have been taken to Somalia’s central region of Galguduud by well-armed gunmen. More on Aid workers kidnapped in Ethiopia