25 March 2009

Mogadishu — Hawiye traditional elders have Wednesday opposed greatly the deployment of the extra African troops joining the African Union Mission (AMISOM) in the Somali capital Migadishu.

Abdullahi Hassan Abukar known as (Dhere), a political spokesman of Hawiye traditional elders said that they are against to bring foreign troops in the country saying that they were only waiting for the clerics' deadline of the foreign troops' withdrawal in whole of the country with in 120 days.

Mr. Abdullahi said that the Somali society did not satisfy the demand of the foreign minister of the Somali government for bringing foreign troops in Somalia.

On the other hand the political spokesman of Hawiye traditional elders Mr. Abdullahi Dhere said that they welcome the decision of Hisbul Islam (Islamic party) for dismissing the former chairman of that organization Dr. Omar Iman Abubakar for reasons of refusing the clerics' statement and added that traditional elders were glad for the party's support of the clerics.

The statement of Hawiye traditional elders comes as Ugandan government confirmed that it had sent extra troops to Somalia which makes 4000 soldiers the number of African Union peace keepers (AMISOM) in Somalia.

Parliament Speaker Calls for Warring Somalis to Stop Fighting

Sheik Aden Mohamed Nor (Madobe), the speaker of the Somali parliament has Wednesday called for the rival forces in Bakol and Galgudud regions in south and central Somalia to stop the fighting as soon as possible.

"It is not good for the Somali people to start fighting once again in Somalia. The fighting in Bakol region is between government soldiers and the Islamic organization of al-Shabab who had defeated from the government soldiers earlier. al-Shabab forces threaten and attack the stations of the government soldiers in the region," the speaker of the Somali parliament Sheik Aden Madobe told Shabelle radio.

Sheik Aden Madobe said that the government did not order its soldiers in Bakol region to launch attack saying that they were attacked by the Islamist forces in the region.

On the other hand Sheik Aden Madobe called for the warring sides in Galgudud region in central Somalia to stop the fighting as soon as possible urging them that fighting does not bring any benefits.

The statement of the Somali government speaker Sheik Aden Mohamed Nor (Madobe) comes as fighting between the government soldiers and the Islamic administration of al-Shabab in Bokol region killed many people where other fighting between Islamist insurgent forces caused more casualties including deaths and wounds in parts of Galgudud region in central Somalia.