From: Berhane Habtemariam (Berhane.Habtemariam@gmx.de)
Date: Sat Apr 18 2009 - 16:16:18 EDT
Somali MPs vote to establish sharia law
Sat Apr 18, 2009 3:47pm GMT
MOGADISHU, April 18 (Reuters) - Somali members of parliament voted
unanimously on Saturday to implement sharia law across the country in a move
aimed at undermining hardline Islamist rebels who have been waging a
two-year insurgency.
The approval by parliament had been expected since March 10, when the
cabinet appointed by new President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed also voted to
establish sharia, or Islamic, law.
Experts say Ahmed's move undermines guerrillas who have been fighting the
government and questioning his Islamic credentials. It will also please
wealthy potential donors in Gulf nations.
Osman Elimi Boqore, the deputy speaker of parliament, said 343 MPs attended
Saturday's session.
"All of them voted 'yes' and accepted the implementation of sharia," he told
reporters. "There was no rejection or silence, so from today we have an
Islamic government."
Ahmed is trying to restore stability to the country and hopes to have direct
talks with rivals including the hardline al Shabaab rebels. A major donors'
meeting on Somalia in Brussels this week will also focus on the threat from
Somali pirates.
Western security services say his failed state could become a base for
militants linked with Al Qaeda. Ahmed was elected in January under a
U.N.-brokered reconciliation process that is Somalia's 15th attempt to set
up central government since 1991. (Reporting by Ibrahim Mohamed; Writing by
Daniel Wallis; Editing by Richard Balmforth)
C Thomson Reuters 2009 All rights reserved
----[This List to be used for Eritrea Related News Only]----