Somalia's new leader is appealing for peace and unity after four insurgent factions, opposed to his leadership of an anticipated unity government for Somalia, agreed to merge and continue fighting. President Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed responded late Thursday to one of the earliest challenges to his authority. He asked the newly-created opposition group to lay down their arms and join the government."We are requesting our brothers to work with us in restoring peace and unity," the Somali leader said. Sheik Sharif says he is willing to open a dialogue with all opponents and would welcome their participation in government.The new, anti-government Islamic Party is composed of four factions - the hard-line Asmara wing of the Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia led by Hassan Dahir Aweys; Harakat Ras Kamboni, a southern Somali Islamist group affiliated with radical military leader Hassan Turki; the Islamic Front, an insurgent group formed in 2007 to oppose Ethiopian troop presence in Somalia; and a little-known, clan-based group called Anole, which is said to have been founded just weeks ago.In a statement announcing the group's formation on Wednesday, the spokesman of the Islamic Party Hassan Mahdi criticized Sheik Sharif's participation in U.N.-sponsored talks in Djibouti. The talks paved the way for the withdrawal of Ethiopian troops from Somalia last month and allowed Sheik Sharif and his opposition party to join the transitional federal government. more..http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-02-06-voa40.cfm
Friday, February 6, 2009
Somali Islamist Groups Merge to Fight Unity Government
Somalia's new leader is appealing for peace and unity after four insurgent factions, opposed to his leadership of an anticipated unity government for Somalia, agreed to merge and continue fighting. President Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed responded late Thursday to one of the earliest challenges to his authority. He asked the newly-created opposition group to lay down their arms and join the government."We are requesting our brothers to work with us in restoring peace and unity," the Somali leader said. Sheik Sharif says he is willing to open a dialogue with all opponents and would welcome their participation in government.The new, anti-government Islamic Party is composed of four factions - the hard-line Asmara wing of the Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia led by Hassan Dahir Aweys; Harakat Ras Kamboni, a southern Somali Islamist group affiliated with radical military leader Hassan Turki; the Islamic Front, an insurgent group formed in 2007 to oppose Ethiopian troop presence in Somalia; and a little-known, clan-based group called Anole, which is said to have been founded just weeks ago.In a statement announcing the group's formation on Wednesday, the spokesman of the Islamic Party Hassan Mahdi criticized Sheik Sharif's participation in U.N.-sponsored talks in Djibouti. The talks paved the way for the withdrawal of Ethiopian troops from Somalia last month and allowed Sheik Sharif and his opposition party to join the transitional federal government. more..http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-02-06-voa40.cfm
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