From: Berhane Habtemariam (Berhane.Habtemariam@gmx.de)
Date: Fri Oct 03 2008 - 13:43:11 EDT
IGAD in disarray over TFG
Fri, 03 Oct 2008 02:34:42 GMT
Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed
The Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has been divided over relocation of Somalia's TFG and parliament to Kenya.
In a secret meeting held between IGAD member-states, Kenya and Uganda agreed with Ethiopia's proposal on relocation of Somalia's Transitional Federal Government (TFG) to Kenya amid escalating violence in the war-torn country. However, Sudan, Djibouti, and Eritrea disagreed with Ethiopia on the issue, Press TV correspondent reported.
Meanwhile, Kenya, Uganda, and Ethiopia called on the international community to send peacemaking troops to Somalia to help the TFG. Moreover, they asked for the extension TFG's mandate and the tenure of President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed for another three years.
IGAD comprises of Sudan, Eritrea, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya, and Uganda known as horn of African states. They sponsored the 2002-2004 peace talks that resulted in the establishment of the TFG.
In April 2007, Eritrea suspended its membership in IGAD after disagreeing with the regional bloc's Somalia policy.
The Transitional Federal Parliament of the Somali Republic was formed in neighboring Kenya in 2004. The interim parliament was then relocated to the Somali city of Baidoa, 260 kilometers northwest of Mogadishu, on February 26, 2006.
AL turns down Somalia appeal for help
Fri, 03 Oct 2008 13:36:02 GMT
al-Shabaab fighters
The Arab League cites the Somali government's atrocities as the main reason for turning down an appeal to help the crisis-stricken nation.
The Arab League declined to comment when Somali deputy Parliament Speaker Mohamed Omar Dalha accused the league, in Cairo, of indifference toward Mogadishu's urgent cry for help, a Press TV correspondent reported.
An Arab League official, who requested to remain unnamed, told Press TV that the reason for the league's refusal to help is that it believes Mogadishu and Ethiopian troops are both responsible for the atrocities committed in the violence-ridden country.
This is while Muqtar Robow, a spokesman for al-Shabaab fighters, has warned Care International (CI) and International Medical Corps (IMC) to immediately leave Somalia or face possible attack. He did not say why the fighters want the two organizations to leave the country.
Robow said the two international groups were dangerous for the country if they did not leave.
CI and IMC have been working in Somalia since 1991 in the Bakool and Bay regions. They serve a total population of more than 370,000 persons, including 53,000 children under the age of five.
Last Wednesday, al-Shabaab fighters invaded IMC offices, took the keys and over the next two days destroyed everything, including medical supplies, equipment and supplementary and therapeutic food intended for malnourished children. No IMC staff member was injured during the raids.
Somali soldiers flee Mogadishu district
Thu, 02 Oct 2008 23:03:33 GMT
Al Shabaab fighters in Somalia
Ethiopian and Somali soldiers have fled the Dayniile District of South Mogadishu after heavily armed Al Shabaab fighters captured the area.
This is while at least 10 Ethiopian soldiers have been injured in a massive landmine explosion in the south of the capital by insurgents, a Press TV correspondent reported.
The insurgents also looted Dayniile Hospital and many houses in the area.
Explosions also shook different parts of Mogadishu before Ethiopian and Somali soldiers started fleeing the area.
Meanwhile, five heavy mortars landed inside Mogadishu International Airport injuring a number of soldiers.
The mortar shells apparently targeted an airplane trying to land in the airport. The plane did not land and managed a safe escape.
Somali pirates to resist commando raid
Fri, 03 Oct 2008 03:12:45 GMT
Ukrainian-operated ship Faina hijacked by pirates
Somali pirates holding hostages on a hijacked cargo ship have warned that they are ready to fight any form of commando-style rescue attempts.
"Anyone who tries to attack us or deceive us will face bad repercussions," the pirates' Spokesman, Sugule Ali said.
Earlier the Somali government had given the green light to international powers to use force against the pirates and the rescue operations for the cargo ship which was seized on Sept. 25.
US warships are now surrounding the cargo ship which is loaded with Kenyan-bound tanks and other arms, to keep the weapons from falling "into the wrong hands," an American Navy spokesman said.
The pirates who seized the ship are demanding a USD 20m ransom.
"We have nothing to do with insurgents or terrorist organizations. We only need money," Ali said. "We would never reduce the ransom."
Ali specifically warned against the type of raids carried out twice this year by French commandos to recover hijacked vessels, AP reported.
The French used night vision goggles and helicopters in operations that killed or captured several pirates, who are now standing trial in Paris.
----[This List to be used for Eritrea Related News Only]----