From: Biniam Haile \(SWE\) (eritrea.lave@comhem.se)
Date: Sun Aug 09 2009 - 19:03:14 EDT
Somali Islamists warn over closer US ties
MOGADISHU, Sunday
Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys, the leader of Hizbu Islam, one of the
Islamist groups opposing the Transitional Federal Government has
condemned the close ties between the Somali government and United
States.
In a statement signed by Sheikh Aweys, the movement labelled the meeting
between President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and US Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton, in Nairobi on Thursday as hostile action against the
people of Somalia.
"In the past, the US supported freedom fighters, but its recent policies
have followed imperialistic approach," said the Hizbu Islam. "Its
strategy on Somalia is one based on adversary and chaos creation," it
added.
Sheikh Aweys indicated that Somalis hoped that the new US Administration
with Barak Obama at the helm would pursue policies different from that
of its predecessor (headed by George W. Bush). Instead, the Islamist
movement views the US as aiming at furthering International colonial
patterns.
Hizbu Islam accused the US government of having supported Ethiopia in
its intervention in Somalia during 2007 and 2008. It said that Ethiopia
still maintains forces inside Somali territory with the full support of
the US.
In the aftermath of the meeting, President Sheikh Sharif and Clinton
accused Eritrea of having negative impact on the stability of Somalia.
The US advised the Eritrean government to desist supporting the forces
opposing the TFG, including Al-Shabaab.
Sheikh Aweys returned from exile in Asmara, Eritrea in April this year.
His movement and Al-Shabaab are committed to overthrowing the government
that was formed in January 2009 when moderate Islamists and secular
politicians joined in a government of national unity.
Eritrea and Ethiopia are believed to be involved in proxy war in
Somalia.
Meanwhile, gunbattles between clan militiamen killed at least 17 people
and wounded 30 on Saturday at a pirate stronghold on the coast of
Somalia, witnesses said.
Local man Farah Aden told Reuters by satellite telephone that the
fighting began overnight and became heavier in the morning.
http://www.nation.co.ke/News/africa/-/1066/637168/-/13845p9z/-/index.htm
l
Islamist Al-Shabaab fighters patrol on the outskirts of Mogadishu
<http://www.nation.co.ke/image/view/-/637182/highRes/93517/-/maxw/600/-/
10oo4jpz/-/Al+Shabab.jpg>
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