From: Berhane Habtemariam (Berhane.Habtemariam@gmx.de)
Date: Thu Jun 17 2010 - 15:19:15 EDT
Senior Islamist accuses Somali govt of breaking deal
By ABDULKADIR KHALIF NATION Correspondent
Posted Thursday, June 17 2010 at 18:23
MOGADISHU, Thursday
Sheikh Omar Abdulkadir, the Chief of the Consultative Council of Ahlu Sunna
wal-Jamea, a moderate Islamist group in Somalia, has accused the
Transitional Federal Government of not honouring the agreement signed by
both parties in March this year.
Sheikh Abdulkadir told the local media on Wednesday that the TFG and Ahlu
Sunna wal-Jamea signed an accord in Addis Ababa under the auspices of the
African Union.
The terms of the agreement, according to the sheikh, compelled the
government and the mainly moderate Sufis Islamists to unite their armies and
political leverage in order to confront the radical Islamists in Somalia,
namely Al-Shabaab and Hizbu Islam.
He outlined that his movement sent a delegation to Mogadishu in order to
hold power-sharing talks with the government.
The clergyman emphasised that the Ahlu Sunna wal-Jamea submitted all the
necessary details from its side including appointees for positions, but he
accused the government led by President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed of not
responding adequately.
"We have done everything within our powers to respect the agreement with the
government," said Sheikh Abdulkadir.
However, the sheikh warned that his movement will strongly retaliate if the
government continues to ignore the group's good gesture.
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