Cairo, Asharq Al-Awsat - Somali Foreign Minister Muhammad Abdullahi Omar told Asharq Al-Awsat that his government intends to regain control over all part of the Somali capital, Mogadishu, by a large-scale military operation. He denied that the transitional authority, which is led by Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmad, is about to collapse. Omar disclosed that hundreds of foreign fighters affiliated with the Al-Qaeda Organization are taking part in the battles that the government forces are fighting against Islamist rebels who seek to overthrow the government and do not recognize its legitimacy. He said the Al-Qaeda Organization leader Osama Bin Laden recently issued instructions to his supporters in Somalia to overthrow the transitional government and assassinate Sheikh Sharif. Omar accused the Youth Movement, which is opposed to the transitional government and to the foreign forces' presence in Somalia, of carrying out a foreign agenda. He strongly criticized the leader of the Somali opposition alliance, Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys. He said Sheikh Aweys is no longer interested in peace or the national reconciliation process, Rather, he is interested in waging wars inside Somalia, he added.Omar shared the view of his prime minister, Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke, who does not expect much of the negotiations with the hard-line Islamist rebels who have no political program and seek only to use the country that lies in the Horn of Africa as a safe haven, as he put it.
The Somali foreign minister is currently on a visit to London before traveling to Damascus to take part in the 36th session of the foreign ministers of the Organization of Islamic Conference. Speaking by telephone from London, he said Eritrea should enter talks with the Somali Government, instead of threatening security and stability in the region.
The following is the text of the interview:
[Asharq Al-Awsat] As a government, you seem to be losing control of Mogadishu...more..http://www.asharq-e.com/news.asp?section=3&id=16839
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