Somali Cabinet Members Votes to Base the Country's Legal System on Islam

MOGADISHU, Somalia — The Somali Cabinet voted to make Islam the basis of the country's legal system in a bid to undercut an increasingly fractured Islamic insurgency. The move on Tuesday was an attempt to isolate more extreme elements of the insurgency by agreeing to a demand supported by more moderate elements and much of the Somali population. Several more moderate insurgent groups had said they would stop fighting the government if Islamic law, or Shariah, was formally introduced. They include the Islamic Party, an alliance of four insurgent groups that control parts of the capital and have influence in the port town of Kismayo; and Ahlu-sunah Wal-jamea, which controls parts of central Somalia. The al-Shabab group, which controls the main cities in the south, has said it does not recognize the legitimacy of the government and is seen as waging a battle to seize direct control of the country. The U.S. State Department says al-Shabab has ties to al-Qaida The bill introducing Islamic law must still be approved by parliament, which is expected to hear it within days.Information Minister Farhan Ali Mohamed said imposing Shariah would help end insurgent attacks..more..http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,508645,00.html
somali talaban Cabinet Ministers endorse Implementing Sharia Law