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UP TO DATE: Islamist militant group, al Shabaab has joined Twitter

ISLAMIST MILITANT group, al-Shabaab, have opened a Twitter account.

Since its launch last week, the group's account, @HSMPress, has posted more than 100 times and attracted over 4,000 followers.

On the micro-blogging site, the group describes itself as: "Harakat Al-Shabaab Al Mujahideen is an Islamic movement that governs South & Cen. Somalia & part of the global struggle towards the revival of Islamic Khilaafa."

The al-shabaab Twitter feeds are mainly in English and used to spread 140-character news and updates on the conflict in areas controlled by the group in Somalia.

The group has also used the tool to trade insults with Kenya which waged a war in October to fight the insurgent kidnappings of tourists and aid works, believed to be backed by the group.

"With Al Shabaab joining tweeter [sic], lets take fight to their doorstep," major Emmanuel Chirchir, Kenyan army's spokesperson wrote.

In another message, Chirchir threatened to bomb concentrations of donkeys that might be moving weapons for the group.

This triggered the insurgent group to respond: "Your eccentric battle strategy has got animal rights groups quite concerned, Major."

Al-Shabaab, which is believed to have links to terrorist group, al-Qaida, is fighting the weak, UN-backed Somali government and controls much of southern Somalia.