Somali talaban Leader Asks Groups to Disarm???Mr. Ahmed said Monday that neither he nor his government had communicated directly with Al Shabab??

DJIBOUTI, Djibouti -- Somalia's new president, Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, gave an optimistic but general forecast for peace in his nation, saying it will take about a year to reconcile political factions and restore stability to the war-torn country. In his first interview with a Western publication since his election, Mr. Ahmed rejected extremism and said he would need international help to rebuild Somalia after nearly two decades of clan-based violence, political upheaval and lawlessness. The 44-year-old teacher-turned-politician was elected by parliament last month, and this week plans to select his cabinet. Mr. Ahmed's biggest challenge will be to confront the militant group Al Shabab. The group was labeled a terrorist organization by the U.S. last year and is now the most powerful force in Somalia. Al Shabab was part of Mr. Ahmed's previous government, which was in power for six months in 2006. Mr. Ahmed said Monday that neither he nor his government had communicated directly with Al Shabab. Instead, he said he had made a public appeal to all groups to lay down their arms and participate in rebuilding the country. "If they agree to a dialogue, they are in, whatever their past positions were," he said, speaking through a translator during the interview. "If they are against dialogue, there is no way we can deal with them, except to be harsh."...more..http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123489816693802261.html?mod=fox_australian
Sunday, February 8, 2009
The Real Truth is he met Al-Shabaab Islamist movement..he is a Big Phat Liar.
Somalia president meets with Terrorist Al-Shabab leader.special report on Mogadishu

Somali Taliban, Somali al Qaeda Agree to Get Along