US freezes Kuwait charity assets over Somali islamist's funding

The United States Treasury Department on Friday froze the assets of a Kuwait-based charity for allegedly supporting and funding Al-Qaeda, the government said in a statement.
The decision applies to the Kuwaiti headquarters of the Revival of Islamic Heritage Society (RIHS), and specifically to any assets the group holds under US jurisdiction. It also bars US persons from any transactions with the group.
"RIHS has used charity and humanitarian assistance as cover to fund terrorist activity and harm innocent civilians in several countries mainly Somali islamist group Called Al-Itihad, often in poor and impoverished regions," said Stuart Levey, under secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence.
The US government applied similar measures to RIHS offices in Afghanistan and Pakistan in 2002 "based on evidence of their support for Al-Qaeda," the Treasury statement said.
"At that time, there was no evidence that the Kuwait-based RIHS headquarters knew that RIHS-Afghanistan and RIHS- Somalia-Pakistan were financing Al-Qaeda. Since that time, however, evidence has mounted implicating RIHS-HQ in terrorism support activity."
The US government said that the group's senior leadership, which managed daily activities, was "aware of both legitimate and illegitimate uses of RIHS funds."
RIHS offices have also been closed or raided over suspicions of terror ties by the governments of Albania, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Cambodia, and Russia.

BREAKING: Toledo Terror Trio Guilty on All Charges

It’s been a bad month for jihadists in the Buckeye State. This afternoon, a jury found three Toledo men, Mohammad Amawi, Marwan El-Hindi, and Wassim Mazloum, guilty on all charges of plotting to kill US soldiers overseas. Amawi and El-Hindi were also convicted of distributing information regarding explosives to terrorists. This follows last week’s guilty plea by Columbus Al-Qaeda member Christopher Paul to charges of joining and fighting with Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan and Bosnia, and training jihadists from Central Ohio and Europe to kill Americans at home and abroad. .more...http://ohioagainstterror.blogspot.com/

Letter to the members of the Somali Diaspora

Nairobi, 12 June 2008

Asalaam Aleikum


At the outset, I would like to thank you all for your patriotic support for the Somali peace agreement which was initialed in Djibouti on 9 June 2008. I received many phone calls and emails expressing backing for the agreement and the consensus that was reached between the Parties.
There is still much work to be done. Your country would sincerely appreciate your help in persuading the international community that they will now need to provide full practical support as promised. This is especially true if we are to ensure that the Parties keep to their promises particularly for setting up an international stabilization force and ensuring humanitarian access. The Parties themselves called for the international community to provide adequate resources for the Agreement.
We will be working hard to organize the Joint Security Committee and the High Level Committee as well as the conference on political cooperation, Justice and Reconciliation and the one on Reconstruction and Development outlined in the Agreement. These are crucial for the success of the peace efforts.
There are high hopes that this will be the beginning of Somalia regaining its sovereignty, independence and pride.
As many of you will recall, in the past it was Somalia that was instrumental in helping reconciliation between Bangladesh and Pakistan after the 1971 war with Sheikh Mujibur Rehman being brought to Lahore in the Somali Foreign Minister’s plane to attend the Organization of Islamic Conference summit in Pakistan. It also helped to broker peace between Tanzania and Uganda. We would like to see Somalia regain its role as a responsible, respected nation that can act as peace maker.
We have had a long dark night which has lasted 18 years. We must now all do our best to put this nightmare behind us and look forward to a new beginning.

Yours Faithfully,

Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah http://www.un-somalia.org/Pressroom/Press_Releases/UNPOS_Media_Advisory73.asp

Somali President attacked at Mogadishu airport again

MOGADISHU, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Islamist insurgents attacked the Mogadishu airport and the motorcade of Somali president Abdullahi Yusuf, for the third time in a month, as the president was to fly for Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, presidential spokesman confirmed to Xinhua on Thursday. "They (insurgent fighter) fired a number of mortars as the president was at the airport to leave for Addis Ababa to attend the Annual AU conference there," Mohamed Mohamoud Hubsired, presidential spokesman, told Xinhua. "The president and his delegation were unharmed by the mortar shells and he flew safely," Hubsired added.
Witnesses also told Xinhua that the presidential motorcade was attacked before on its way to the Mogadishu airport but there are no reports of any casualty. more..http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-06/12/content_8355524.htm

AGREEMENT BETWEEN TFG AND ARS

In the name of Allah, the most Beneficent and the most Merciful


AGREEMENT BETWEEN

THE TRANSITIONAL FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF SOMALIA (TFG)
And
THE ALLIANCE FOR THE RE-LIBERATION OF SOMALIA (ARS)

http://www.aigaforum.com/Somali_agreement_062008.htm

Eritrean Leader Afawerki intrigues to kill Sheikh Sharif Ahmed

Djibouti agreement ARS and the Somali interim government

Intelligence reports from Eritrea say that President Isias Afawerki has got angry over the departure of Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed to Djibouti to join in Djibouti peace talks sources in Eritrea said.Sources say that Isias Afwerki has phoned to Sheikh Sharif in Djibouti warning him from taking part the peace but Sharif rebuffed to accept.The sources say that Isias Afawerki has threatened to Sharif of premeditated killing against him.Some intelligence officers close to Eritrean president say that he warned the rest of the ARS members in Eritrea from taking part the talks.Its yet unknown how/why Isias Afawerki is doing this act."He is in assassination plan against Sharif "sources close to Eritrean president told " sheik Sharif has rubbished Afawerki's remarks..Sources say that if the peace agreed to withdraw Ethiopian troops from Somalia subsequently they would invade Eritrea that might be the foremost concern of Eritrea putting in pressure on Sheikh Sharif because no attack against Eritrea could take place if the Ethiopian troops are busy with the fighting of Somalia islamists leave from Somalia.Somali Prime Minister Nur Hassan Hussein and ARS chief Sheikh Sharif Ahmed signed the accord late Monday at the second of talks organised and mediated by the UN special envoy for Somalia Ahmedou Ould Abdallah.While some Islamist leaders and influential clan leaders joined the talks, Aweys and other Islamists stayed away, saying they would not take part unless Ethiopian troops backing government forces pulled out of Somalia.According to the accord, Ethiopian troops would withdraw after the United Nations deployed peacekeepers from countries friendly to Somalia -- excluding neighbouring states -- within 120 days after the armistice takes effect.It said the government would meanwhile "act in accordance with the decision that has already been taken by the Ethiopian government to withdraw its troops from Somalia after the deployment of a sufficient number of UN forces."On May 15, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution opening the way to a gradual return of UN staff to Somalia and possibly resulting in the deployment of peacekeepers there, but did not set a timetable.But Aweys said the new truce did not set a deadline for the pullout of Ethiopian troops, who deployed at the end of 2006 and ousted Islamists from south and central Somalia."The agreement does not offer a timetable of the withdrawal of Ethiopian forces. It is not clear when they will leave," Aweys added.The Islamists have waged a guerrilla war since then, which according to international rights groups and aid agencies has left at least 6,000 civilians dead and displaced hundreds of thousands mainly from the flashpoint capital Mogadishu.The rivals also agreed to facilitate unhindered passage of humanitarian supplies to around 2.6 million Somalis in need of urgent food aid even though similar pledge on May 16 went unheeded.The figure is expected to reach 3.5 million by the year-end because of a prolonged drought and fast rising inflation.But the United Nations and aid groups have scaled down operations owing to increased insecurity.The country has been plagued by an uninterrupted civil war since the 1991 overthrow of president Mohamed Siad Barre. A string of previous peace initiatives and truce deals have failed.The African Union has deployed ome 2,600 peacekeepers deployed in Somalia -- short of the pledged 8,000 troops -- but have failed to stem the rising tide of insurgency in the nation of 10 million.This also comes as the Reliberation of Somalia alliance based in Eritrea will hold meeting next week to dismiss Sheikh Sharif.Zakariya Mahmud, ARS deputy chairman, has revealed that the ARS will hold a meeting next week to make a decision to dismiss ARS chairman Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmad from his post and appoint a replacement to him.In a statement by telephone from Asmara, Mahmud said that "the ARS Central Committee will meet next week to put an end to Sheikh Sharif's betrayal of the ARS principles, cancel the unilateral decisions he has made, and reject the stances he has taken, which are opposed to the ARS policy."This is the first time a prominent official of the ARS has publicly confirmed the intention to dismiss Sharif from his post. It is to be recalled that Shaykh Hasan Tahir Oweys, a leading figure in the ARS and former leader of the Islamic Courts, told recently that there is an intention within the ARS to sever Sharif's link to the ARS. Sharif has not held any meeting with the ARS members for the past three months.He also levelled sharp accusations at Eritrean President Isaias Afworki of attempting to control the ARS and to use it to serve his country's interests in the Horn of Africa. Shaykh Sharif and Sharif Hasan Adam, the dissident [former] speaker of the Somalia parliament, are leading the ARS delegation to Djibouti, currently hosting indirect negotiations between the ARS and the Somali authorities under the auspices of Ahmad Ould-Abdallah, the UN special envoy to Somalia.Zakariya Mahmud, the ARS deputy chairman, pointed out that Shaykh Sharif has ignored demands that he return to Asmara to resolve differences and explain the stand he has taken.He noted that Sharif, who is leading the ARS delegation to the Djibouti negotiations under the auspices of the UN between the ARS and the interim Somali government, led by Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf, is no longer the ARS chairman due to his betrayal of the trust of the ARS members and because he held talks with the enemies of Somalia under US auspices.He added:"The ARS will not recognize any agreement signed by Sharif with the Somali authorities because he has, in effect, lost both his post and the trust of the ARS members, and so he no longer represents them. We do not recognize him as the ARS chairman any more and we will overthrow him, because he has betrayed the trust and has failed to honour our constants of rejecting any peace talks with the Somali interim government or any Ethiopian official before the withdrawal of the Ethiopian forces from Somalia." The Ethiopian forces invaded Somali towards the end of 2006 to enable the Somali authorities to overthrow the Islamic Courts, which then were in control of several areas in Somali, including Mogadishu, for six months." Zakariya Mahmud pointed out that the US ambassador to Nairobi played a key role in arranging the current Somali reconciliation meetings in Djibouti after unpublicized contacts with Sheikh Sharif without the knowledge of the ARS.He disclosed that, according to unofficial information that the ARS received from the Ethiopian ambassador to Djibouti, Sharif and some members of the ARS to the Djibouti negotiations met in secret [with the Ethiopian ambassador to Djibouti].He said this represents "an unforgivable betrayal and an attempt to establish suspicious relations with representatives of the Ethiopian regime." It is to be recalled that the ARS delegation had walked out of the Djibouti negotiations because the Ethiopian ambassador was present at the venue of the negotiations, something that Zakariya described as "an exposed theatrical ploy to cover up the suspicious contacts between the two sides." He added:"As far as we are concerned, we will not contact or meet with collaborators (in reference to the Somali authorities), or the occupiers (in reference to the Ethiopian forces) before Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi has withdrawn his military forces from Somalia."Arab and Western sources concerned with the Somali issue expect that the overthrow of Sheikh Sharif from his post as chairman of the ARS would impact the efforts being exerted by Ahmad Ould-Abdullahi, the Mauritian diplomat and the UN special envoy to Somalia, to bring about direct negotiations between the ARS and the Somali interim government.According to the Asmara Alliance Charter, which was established last year and which comprises of Somali Islamists, secularists, parliamentarians, and dissidents, the deputy chairman of the ARS will temporarily assume the ARS chairmanship if Sheikh Sharif is actually toppled and dismissed from his post.Sharif, the former chairman of the Executive Council of the Islamic Courts, is viewed as a moderate among the hawks of the Islamic Courts, though in the past year he held controversial talks with representatives of US President George Bush's administration in the capital Nairobi under the auspices of the Kenyan authorities.

Somali Terrorist insurgents kill 10 after rejecting peace

one of the The most Dangerous Terrorist

Hassan Abdullah Hersi al-Turki

Terrorist Hassan Dahir Aweys
MOGADISHU (Reuters) - Somali insurgents killed at least 10 people, including six policemen, in separate attacks hours after rejecting a U.N.-brokered peace deal for the Horn of Africa nation.
An attack on a police base in Mogadishu and other attacks in the capital and Baidoa, brought to about 40 the number killed in an increase in fighting since the weekend between allied Ethiopian-Somali security forces and Islamist-led insurgents.
The latest attacks came after Islamist hardliners Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys and Sheik Hassan Abdullah Hersi al-Turki -- who are both on U.S. and U.N. lists of al Qaeda associates -- rejected a peace deal signed in Djibouti.. more. http://uk.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUKL1129122720080611?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews

Jihadi Website Interviews New Leader of Somalia’s Shabaab al-Mujahideen

On the eve of the fatal U.S. strike against Aden Hashi Ayro, leader of the Shabaab al-Mujahideen movement in Somalia, the electronic monthly magazine Echo of Jihad conducted an interview with Mukhtar Ali Robow, the ex-deputy minister of defense of Somalia’s Islamic Courts Union (ICU). Better known as Abu Mansur, the veteran militant is the spokesman for Shabaab al-Mujahideen as well as Ayro’s successor (alsomal.com, May 9). The interview was published as a special edition by the Global Islamic Media Front and posted in different pro-jihadist websites (shmo5alislam.net) more.. http://jamestown.org/terrorism/news/article.php?articleid=2374182

Two Somali Arrested in Britain

Two Somalian eHadis have been arrested in Britain. Apparently they had quite a large collection of terrorist propaganda videos which they were distributing through a website they ran.
If any one knows the website they operated, please let me know. There are several that we have been keeping tabs on with a direct relationship to Somalia's al Qaeda affiliate, al Shabab, and their version of the Taliban, The Islamic Courts Union. But just because they are Somali does not necessarily mean they were only supporting terrorism in Somalia, it's just a guess. The jihad is global in scope and support for it knows no geographical limitations.
And once again we see the connection between the online jihad and the physical jihad: they two were raising money for terrorist organizations online.
Leicester Mercury News:
A man from Leicester will appear in a London court today charged with supporting terrorism overseas.
Musse Said Yusuf, 31, of Higgs Close, Rowlatts Hill, is accused of running a website which published terrorist literature, and of owning instructional videos for the purpose of terrorism. He was arrested when counter-terrorism police raided a family home in the street, off Coleman Road, on May 28. ,,,
Officers then searched the building and took away items including three computers. Neighbours told how they had seen officers looking under the family's cars and in the garage...
The dawn raid in Leicester was carried out alongside one at a home in East London on the same day, where a second man was detained. Police said Yusuf was charged last night - two weeks after arrest - with Ahmed Said Mohammed, of Southcott House, Devons Road, Poplar, London. The 32-year-old is accused of having money for the purpose of terrorism

Somalia's Government Sees New Agreement As First Step to Reclaim Stability

The Somali Transitional Government of National Unity said yesterday’s cessation of hostilities agreement with the exiled opposition Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia is a first step by Somalis to reclaim the stability and security of their country. Minister of information Ahmed Abdisalam Adan said the agreement also lays the foundation for increased international involvement in Somalia. more..http://voanews.com/english/Africa/2008-06-10-voa5.cfm

Islamist rejects Somali peace deal Story Highlights

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) -- A leader of Somalia's ousted Islamic movement rejected a U.N.-brokered peace deal between the government and an opposition alliance, saying Tuesday that Islamic insurgents will continue to fight.

Sheik Hassan Dahir Aweys, leader of the Islamic courts in Somalia, says the deal will not bring peace.

The Somali government and the opposition Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia agreed late Monday to end months of violence and set a timetable for the withdrawal of Ethiopian troops called into back up Somalia's fragile government.
The deal was an important step toward peace, but it remains to if hard-line members of the opposition -- who have denounced those who took part in the U.N.-led talks in Djibouti -- will respect the accord.
"The so-called deal is rubbish and inconsequential," Sheik Hassan Dahir Aweys, who is on U.S. and U.N. lists of terrorism suspects, told The Associated Press. "It will not in any way result in peace." .. more http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/africa/06/10/somalia.deal.ap/index.html

United States welcomes the agreement in Djibouti

Press StatementSean

McCormack, SpokesmanWashington, DCJune 9, 2008

Somalia – Agreement in Djibouti
The United States welcomes the agreement between the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia and the opposition Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia. We appreciate the efforts of the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG), Somali civil society representatives, and members of the international community, in particular the Government of Djibouti as hosts of the talks, for their contributions to this agreement.
We welcome the commitment of both parties to take concrete steps to implement this agreement, including committing to a cessation of hostilities, establishing a Joint Security Committee on security arrangements and a High Level Committee on political issues related to justice and reconciliation, and undertaking efforts to ensure unhindered humanitarian access to affected populations in Somalia. We call on all Somali stakeholders, whether party to the agreement or not, to abide by its provisions and support its implementation.
The United States also acknowledges the request of both parties to the United Nations Security Council to authorize and deploy an international stabilization force in Somalia. The United States will give careful consideration to this proposal, in consultation with the Security Council.
2008/473
Released on June 9, 2008
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2008/jun/105742.htm

more .. Somalia's Government Sees New Agreement As First Step to Reclaim Stability

http://voanews.com/english/Africa/2008-06-10-voa5.cfm

Somali government signs peace deal to end 17-year conflict

SOMALIA'S government has signed a peace deal with an alliance of opposition groups, a United Nations envoy said last night, in a deal that could bring an end to 17 years of conflict.
Ahmedou Ould Abdallah, the UN envoy to Somalia, said the government and the Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia agreed at talks in Djibouti to cease violence for three months.The deal will see Ethiopian troops withdraw from Somalia within

120 days.The opposition sees the Ethiopians, who have been in Somalia since 2006 to help government forces deal with an Islamic insurgency, as an occupying force in Somalia.However, it remains to be seen if the agreement will be respected by hardline members of the opposition, who have denounced those who took part in the UN-led negotiations.Al-Shabab, the military wing of Somalia's ousted Islamic movement, did not participate in the Djibouti talks. The government's deal with the opposition Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia came after hours of rumours that the talks had collapsed over the issue of Ethiopian troops.Both sides agreed to "end all acts of armed confrontation" within 30 days and to act within 120 days to withdraw Ethiopian troops once a UN peacekeeping force is deployed."The deal is a splendid step toward peace," said Ahmed Abdisalam, the Somali information minister and head of the government negotiating team. "The Somalis and the international community should now work toward turning it into a reality."Somalia has been in a state of anarchy since warlords overthrew the dictator Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991 and then turned on each other.The shaky transitional government was formed in 2004 with the help of the UN, but has failed to assert any real control. After Islamic militants seized control of the capital, Mogadishu, and most of southern Somalia, the government called in troops from neighbouring Ethiopia in December 2006 to oust them.A vicious insurgency started soon after and remains a potent and disruptive force in the country and a continuing threat to the government, which is backed by both the European Union and the United States.

Terrorist Hawiye elder’s clan council suffer differences

The political speaker of Hawiye clan and traditional elders Abdullah has unveiled that new gaps has came between the senior elders of the council. Mr.Dhere has added that the two top official of the council including the speaker Ahmed Dirie and the chairman Mohamed Hassan Haad have jointly started political domination and fraud against the regulations of the board.
"They (Ahmed Diri and Mohamed Haad) have agreed with disproportion and inequity acts" Mr.Dhere said.He rebuffed reports saying that the deviations between the entire members of the group he said: it’s put in a nutshell to Ahmed Dirie and Haad.He revealed that the basis of the disagreement was clannish structure.It’s the second that Hawiye political council has experienced these kinds of disagreements following the council broke up into two parts one faction led by Haji Abdi Iman and Abdullahi Sheikh Hassan joined to Somali government.

Despair as Somali peace talks end

United Nations-brokered talks to end 17 years of conflict in Somalia have been ended because the UN envoy said neither side would make concessions.
Ahmedou Ould Abdallah said busy international diplomats could not be held hostage by personality disputes. He said the continuing fighting was terrible for the people of Somalia.
At least 28 people were killed during clashes between Islamist insurgents and Ethiopian troops backing the Somali government over the weekend. more..http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7443462.stm

Heavy gunfire between Ethio-Som Troops and Terrorist al shabaab fighters.

MOGADISHU, Somalia June 8 - Heavy fighting between Ethiopian-backed Somali government forces and Islamist-led insurgents killed nearly 20 people Sunday in the dangerous capital Mogadishu, witnesses and officials said.
The fighting erupted early in the morning after joint Somali-Ethiopian troops expanded along major roads leading to Bakara Market, the country's largest marketplace.
Suspected insurgents attacked the soldiers, sparking a deadly battle that included indiscriminate bombardment of the market, according to eyewitnesses. MORE.http://www.garoweonline.com/artman2/publish/Somalia_27/20_killed_80_wounded_in_Somalia_market_attack.shtml

The Somalis meeting in Djibouti say no foreign ambassadores in the forum hall

The somali parties meeting in the Djiboutian capital Djibouti have unanimously agreed that all foreign amabassadors not to pop in the hall where the reconciliation meeting is going on.
The Ethiopian amabassador in Djabouti was yesterday seen sitting inside the meeting hall un invited. The Somali government opponents walked out of the hall after having seen the ambassador was in the forum hall.
The UN ambassador to Somalia Ahmed Walad Abdalla was asked why the government rivals walked out of the meeting he said, “they walked out of the hall after they have sighted un wanted guest in the hall, and now we have settled this issue” said Walad Abdalla.
The parties meeting in Djabouti have last night had separate meetings and, eventually come up with a desission to ban all foreign ambassadors from the mediation hall.Some of the Somali members of Parliament who are in Djibouti have told the press that both the rivals and the government have agreed upon one concrete dicission and that is to ban all foreign ambassadors from the hall.The Ethiopian ambassador on his side said that if a single foreign ambassador is in the meeting hall there is no law that can restrict him to join the rest.

Terrorist Fundraiser Zakariya Mahmud Haji accuses Djibouti-based counterparts of treason

chairman of the Alliance for the Reliberation of Somalia Zakariya Mahmud Haji Abdi has strongly condemned the leaders of the alliance [Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmad and Sharif Hasan Sheikh Adan] for committing treason against the alliance.Speaking to Al-Arabiya TV from the Eritrean capital, Asmara, Mr Zakariya Mahmud Haji Abdi has said that there had been secret talks in Djibouti between the Ethiopian ambassador to Djibouti and leaders of the Somali opposition alliance Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmad and Sharif Hasan Sheikh Adan. He said the move is a violation and high treason against the alliance and the Somali people.The deputy chairman of the alliance, Mr Zakariya Mahmud Haji Abdi, further said that his alliance had obtained unofficial reports about talks that took place between the Ethiopian government and leaders of the alliance, an act which violates the constitution of the alliance that forbids any talks with Ethiopia until it withdraws its forces from Somalia.
He said it was surprising to see members of the alliance walking out of the Djibouti talks following the arrival of Ethiopian ambassador at the hall where the talks were going on. He said that it was ridiculous because the opposition alliance in Djibouti has always held secret meetings with the Ethiopian ambassador.Mr Zakariya Mahmud has accused Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmad and Sharif Hasan Sheikh Adan of violating the policy of the alliance. He claimed that he is now the acting chairman of the alliance until a new chairman is elected, since the chairman, Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmad, had defected from the group. He also commented on remarks against Eritrea, made by Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmad, saying that such a move was not needed and that Sheikh Sharif erred.

The remarks by Abdi come after the announcement by the UN special envoy to Somalia, Ahmad Ould Abdallah, that rival Somali factions in Djibouti will soon start face to face talks to discuss the future of their country.

Currently both sides, the Somali government delegates and opposition members, are holding indirect talks in Djibouti Zakariya Mahmud Haji Abdi has said the talks will not bear any fruit. .. more info on Zakariya Mahmud Haji

Homeland Insecurity: Terrorist Fundraising in the Heartland

http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/homeland_security_snoozes_whil/

Canadian held in Ethiopia could face death penalty

A Canadian citizen who has been imprisoned in Ethiopia for more than a year has been charged with terrorism-related activities and could face the death penalty, CBC News has learned.

'I was actually devastated. I had to stop the car I was driving.'—Said Makhtal, cousin of Bashir Ahmed Makhtal http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2008/06/05/makhtal-ethiopia.html?ref=rss

Puntland State regional government close relations with the government of neighboring Ethiopia.

GAROWE, Somalia - The president of Somalia's Puntland State regional government told a crowd on Thursday that there are groups who oppose his administration' s close relations with the government of neighboring Ethiopia.

Gen. Adde Muse, the Puntland leader, was addressing the opening ceremony of a new office for the NEC electricity company, which opened today in Garowe, the capital of Puntland.

Puntland President Adde Muse cutting the tape

"Ethiopia and Puntland share a long border and we have consultations on common security interests," President Muse said, adding: "The man who commits a crime against Ethiopia will not be allowed [to live] in Puntland."

The Puntland leader said that a general security agreement was signed last month between the Puntland regional authority and Ethiopia's federal government, but indicated that there are "no hidden features" in that agreement.

President Muse acknowledged that there is growing public dissatisfaction with the Puntland-Ethiopia security arrangement, especially in light of controversial extraditions of Somali civilians detained in Puntland and transferred over to the Ethiopian government.

Adde Muse addressing the crowd

But the Puntland leader rejected such criticisms, telling unidentified critics: "It is a must for us [Puntland] to work for our interests."

At Thursday's weekly Puntland Cabinet meeting, President Muse detailed his weeks-long trip to Addis Ababa, where he worked out security arrangements with Ethiopian officials.

Puntland Information Minister Abdirahman Bangah told journalists after the meeting that three special committees were established to deal with rising insecurity, coordinate the government's humanitarian efforts and conduct a population census for the regions.

The Ethiopian government enjoys cordial relations with regional rulers in Somalia, especially in the self-governing regions of Puntland and Somaliland, and with the country's interim federal government in Mogadishu.

Somalia peace talks in Djibouti resume after brief halt

JIBOUTI CITY, Djibouti June 5 - Peace talks aimed at ending Somalia's 18-year war resumed again on Thursday after a brief halt the day earlier. A seminar on justice, reconciliation and peace in Somalia continued in Djibouti City after opposition delegates from the Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia (ARS) withdrew briefly yesterday.
According to reports, the presence of Ethiopia's ambassador to Djibouti at the seminar on Wednesday angered the ARS delegates, who abruptly left the seminar in protest.

Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, UN Envoy to Somalia

Sources tell TFSF that United Nations officials, including the Secretary-General's Somalia envoy, Mr. Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, resolved the brief dispute by withdrawing invitations to foreign embassies.However, official representatives from international organizations, including the African Union, the Arab League and the European Union were allowed to attend the talks as observers.Peace talks between Somalia's Ethiopian-backed interim government and the Islamist-dominated ARS will take a break on Friday and resume over the weekend, according to organizers.Inside sources said the ARS delegates have demanded an exact withdrawal date for Ethiopian troops currently deployed in Somalia before meeting face-to-face with the Somali government, a key sticking point in the talks.Both Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and interim Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf have ruled out any quick withdrawal of Ethiopian forces and have repeatedly called for UN peacekeepers to replace the Ethiopian army.

Ex-Somali Islamist financier arrives in Djibouti for peace talks

Businessman Haji Abukar Umar Adani, who was an ardent [financial] backer of the Union of Islamic Courts when the group was ruling the country, has arrived in Djibouti.

Businessman Haji Abukar, who arrived in Djibouti the previous night, held talks with Djibouti President Ismail Omar Guelleh and Shaykh Sharif [Shaykh Ahmad], the chairman of the Alliance for Re-Liberation of Somalia [ARS]Reports say that the businessman will meet with members of the [UN] Security Council and Somali delegates attending the [reconciliation] talks in Djibouti.
He has not yet stated his personal views on the talks taking place in Djibouti. He strongly supports the ARS, particularly the faction of Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmad.

Somalia: TFG Stops Anti-Islamist 'Operations' to Advance Peace Talks

Mogadishu,- The Somali government has decided to halt its security operations against Islamist insurgents in a bid to boost reconciliation talks currently under way in Djibouti, a minister said Monday. "We have decided to stop all operations in Somalia to avoid civilian casualties," said Ahmed Abdisalan Adan, who is Somalia's deputy prime minister and minister of youth, sports and information."First we want to reconcile and find a political solution. After, we'll handle the security. We want the Somali people to feel that peace is coming," he added. He was speaking during a visit by a UN Security Council delegation to Djibouti, where UN-sponsored talks between Somalia's main political rivals resumed on May 31. The talks come against a backdrop of near daily clashes between Ethiopian-backed troops from the Somali transitional federal government (TFG) and Islamist insurgents.Adan did not specify whether the Ethiopian military deployed in Somalia would take the same approach and curb its operations against Islamist militia. The main protagonists in the Djibouti talks are officials from the TFG and from the Asmara-based Islamist-dominated opposition Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia (ARS). Although both sides have officially only engaged in indirect talks so far, Adan said they had been meeting informally on the sidelines. "During the last two days, we met informally. We are no strangers to each other. We do believe they have come here for peace," he said. "Even if we have different backgrounds, we have acknowledged that our ultimate goal is to get peace in Somalia," he added.Some influential Islamist leaders have continued to insist that an Ethiopian withdrawal from Somalia's territory should be a precondition to negotiations with the government.


Somali Foreign Minister Ali Ahmed Jama Jengali welcomed the visit by the ambassadors to the 15-nation UN Security Council. "This visit comes at a good schedule. We have briefed them on the situation in Somalia . They have expressed their concerns for Somalis and wished that we reconcile and focus on the future of the people and the country," he said. "Our delegation came here with an open mind to reach reconciliation. Now we have a good opportunity to move the process forward," he added.

Somalia Needs Political Solution

United Nations Security Council delegation

The Somali government has decided to halt its security operations against Islamist insurgents in a bid to boost reconciliation talks currently under way in Djibouti, says a minister.
"We have decided to stop all operations in Somalia to avoid civilian casualties," said Ahmed Abdisalan Adan, who was Somalia's deputy prime minister and minister of youth, sports and information.
"First we want to reconcile and find a political solution. After, we'll handle the security. We want the Somali people to feel that peace is coming," he added. He was speaking during a visit by a United Nations Security Council delegation to Djibouti, where UN-sponsored talks between Somalia's main political rivals resumed on May 31. The talks came against a backdrop of near daily clashes between Ethiopian-backed troops from the Somali transitional federal government (TFG) and Islamist insurgents. 'We are no strangers' Adan did not specify whether the Ethiopian military deployed in Somalia would take the same approach and curb its operations against Islamist militia. The main protagonists in the Djibouti talks were officials from the TFG and from the Asmara-based Islamist-dominated opposition Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia (ARS)

. Although both sides had officially only engaged in indirect talks so far, Adan said they had been meeting informally on the sidelines. He said: "During the last two days, we met informally.
We are no strangers to each other. We do believe they have come here for peace. "Even if we have different backgrounds, we have acknowledged that our ultimate goal is to get peace in Somalia." Some influential Islamist leaders had continued to insist that an Ethiopian withdrawal from Somalia's territory should be a precondition to negotiations with the government.
Somali Foreign Minister Ali Ahmed Jama Jengali welcomed the visit by the ambassadors to the 15-nation UN Security Council. He said: "This visit comes at a good schedule. We have briefed them on the situation in Somalia. They have expressed their concerns for Somalis and wished that we reconcile and focus on the future of the people and the country. "Our delegation came here with an open mind to reach reconciliation. Now we have a good opportunity to move the process forward."

President returns home after Djibouti meet with Security Council

Somalia's interim president returned to the capital Mogadishu Tuesday after meeting with a United Nations Security Council delegation in Djibouti.
President Abdullahi Yusuf's meeting with UN diplomats was centered on his government's request for UN peacekeepers to replace Ethiopian troops and a small African Union peacekeeping mission serving in Mogadishu.. more ..http://allafrica.com/stories/200806040007.html

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Prime Minister Meles Zenawi Received Africa Leadership Award

Prime Minister Meles Zenawi Received Africa Leadership Award
Prime Minister Meles Zenawi won this year’s Africa Leadership Award. Africa Times, a US-based newspaper and the Africa Achievement Award Committee honored Meles in a colorful ceremony held at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel in Los Angeles , California . H.E. Ambassador Taye Atske Selassie, more http://www.hebrezema.com/PMMA.html

Somalia opposition digs in heels at UN peace talks

Louis Charbonneau, ReutersPublished: Monday, June 02, 2008

DJIBOUTI - Somalia's government said it hoped for a peace agreement with the opposition at U.N. talks that began on Monday, but the opposition said the withdrawal of Ethiopian troops from Somalia would have to be settled first.
Somalia's Information Minister Ahmed Abdisalan said an agreement at U.N.-brokered talks in Djibouti would directly improve the security situation, despite the absence from the talks of al-Shabaab Islamist militants and some factions of the opposition Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia (ARS). more..http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=7aa79e13-f4fa-4fb9-93d3-bd521295f06f

UN. OKs ships to fight Somali pirates

UNITED NATIONS (AP) Foreign ships gained authorization yesterday to enter Somali waters when fighting piracy and armed robbery rampant problems along the African nation's lawless coast.
The U.N. Security Council's 15 members unanimously adopted a resolution intended to combat the attacks and hijacking of vessels along the country's 1,880-mile coastline, the continent's longest. more..http://www.washtimes.com/news/2008/jun/03/un-oks-foreign-ships-fight-somali-pirates/

UN Begins Talks With Somali President, Opposition in Djibouti

The United Nations Security Council is meeting with Somalia's president and exiled opposition leaders with the goal of starting peace talks for the war-ravaged nation.
Abdullahi Yusuf (file photo)Security Council diplomats met first with Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf Monday ahead of discussions with leaders of the opposition Alliance for the Reliberation of Somalia (ARS). more .. http://www.voanews.com/english/2008-06-02-voa16.cfm

Somalia president links Ethiopia pullout to UN deployment
DJIBOUTI (AFP) — Somalia's president told a UN Security Council mission Monday that a UN peacekeeping mission must be deployed in his country before Ethiopian troops can withdraw.
"The eventual withdrawal of the Ethiopian troops from Somalia is contingent on the deployment of the United Nations peacemaking force and the cessation of hostilities," Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed said.
"I would like to state very clearly that there should not be a security vacuum in Somalia," he added.