From: Berhane Habtemariam (Berhane.Habtemariam@gmx.de)
Date: Mon Jan 05 2009 - 14:34:24 EST
Somalia: Sheikh Sharif and Sheikh Aweys to Meet - Sources
5 January 2009
_____
Two Islamist leaders in Somalia who have parted ways following the Ethiopian
invasion of 2006 are planning to meeting soon, informed sources tell Garowe
Online.
Arab governments, including Egypt, are spearheading efforts to reconcile
differences between Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and Sheikh Hassan Dahir
Aweys, the sources added.
Sheikh Aweys
"Sheikh Sharif and Sheikh Aweys have [both] accepted requests to meet in
Cairo," said a source closely associated to Sheikh Sharif, who is currently
in Egypt.
In 2006, the two men were the twin heads of the Islamic Courts Union (ICU)
militia that captured Mogadishu and more than half the country, prompting
the U.S.-backed Ethiopian invasion later that year.
The ICU militia scattered away as the Ethiopian army advanced and its top
leaders, including Sheikh Sharif and Sheikh Aweys, fled to Eritrea, while a
bloody insurgency erupted in Mogadishu.
The two men broke ties earlier this year after Sheikh Sharif entered into
peace talks with the Somal interim government, but Sheikh Aweys steadfastly
refused to enter the negotiations until Ethiopian troops withdraw.
Ethiopia has began pulling its troops out of Somalia, citing international
negligence of the situation in the Horn of Africa country as well as Sheikh
Sharif's peace deal.
It is not clear if Sheikh Aweys has softened his political stance due to
recent developments, including President Abdullahi Yusuf's resignation and
Ethiopian pullout.
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