From: Berhane Habtemariam (Berhane.Habtemariam@gmx.de)
Date: Mon Jun 29 2009 - 05:50:16 EDT
President Sheikh Sharif accuses Eritrea of aiding Somalia insurgents
28 Jun 28, 2009 - 3:39:23 PM
MOGADISHU, Somalia June 28 (Garowe Online) - Somalia's interim president has
accused Eritrea of helping insurgents who are attempting to overthrow the
interim government in Mogadishu, Radio Garowe reports.
Sheikh Sharif Ahmed, the Somali president, told a Sunday press conference at
the Villa Somalia presidential palace that "Eritrean officers" are helping
Somali insurgents fighting the government in Mogadishu.
"I used to be friends with Sheikh Hassan Dahir [Aweys] but now he has
Eritrean officers with him leading the fight," said the Somali leader, who
fled to Eritrea in early 2007 after Ethiopian troops intervened in
south-central Somalia to oust the Islamic Courts movement, which was led by
Sharif and Aweys.
He said Sheikh Aweys, who is chairman of Hizbul Islam rebel faction, has
"committed a huge crime" against the Somali people.
"If he [Aweys] wants power, he must follow the road of peace and
reconciliation and these battles are unnecessary," President Sheikh Sharif
said.
He also accused Somali insurgents of "hosting Al Qaeda leaders" who have
introduced new methods of violence such as "beheadings and suicide bombings"
to the Somali conflict.
"Somalia is a Muslim country and it does not need a new war using Islam as
an excuse.the foreign fighters want to keep Somalia in chaos," President
Sheikh Sharif.
Insurgent mortars targeted the Villa Somalia presidential compound where
President Sheikh Sharif was holding the conference, forcing government
forces to respond with artillery fire. At least five people in the attacks.
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