Shabelle Media Network (Mogadishu)
21 August 2008
Mogadishu — In a teleconference he held for the local media on Wednesday night Sheikh Moqtar Robow Abu Mansur has avowed that the Djibouti peace deal jointly signed by Somali government and the major opposition group, Alliance for the reliberation of Somalia was "futile"
"The Jihad will keep on, there is no peace agreement, the martyrers will move ahead to the Jihad bath even if Ethiopians pull out" Robow said.' there were no representatives from the Mujahidin at what called "peace deal"
He added that the end of hostilities hinges on the re-establishing of Islamic sharia in Somalia.
"Our objective is not only fighting, we want the Islamic sharia to be the constitution of Somalis" he added.
Robow's remarks come later than Somali government and the ARS opposition groups have signed peace agreement in the neighboring Djibouti.
The Djibouti Agreement seeks the replacement of Ethiopian troops supporting the transitional government with U.N. peacekeepers, who would also take over the duties of a small, ill-funded African Union force.
But disagreement over the discussions split the Eritrea-based opposition Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia (ARS) in two, with hardline exiles in Asmara joining the insurgents in denouncing the ARS officials who took part.
Like previous rounds of talks -- including a six-week peace conference last year in rubble-strewn Mogadishu -- the negotiations have done little to reduce bloodshed on the ground. At least five people were killed on Tuesday when Islamist fighters attacked a military base near a busy Mogadishu market.
"Three mortar shells landed in Bakara market and hit traders and customers," Mohamud Hussein, a mini-bus driver said. He counted 17 wounded.
Another resident, Nimco Sara, said fighting between the insurgents and the allied government and Ethiopian troops killed two fighters and lasted about 15 minutes.
In some of the worst violence for weeks, city residents said nearly 50 people died last Friday when Ethiopian soldiers and government troops opened fire on civilians in retaliation after two roadside bombs ripped through their convoys.
This was denied by the Ethiopian foreign ministry.
"Ethiopia's military conduct follows international rules of engagement and we do not attack civilians," Wahade Belay, a ministry spokesman, told Shabelle.
He said an independent investigation by Somali officials found the only deaths had been caused by bombs planted by the rebel al Shabaab militia, which Washington says is a terrorist group with close ties to Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda.
Near-daily grenade attacks, gun battles and assassinations have driven many civilians from their homes, particularly in the capital, and their plight has been compounded by record food prices, hyper-inflation and drought.
The U.N. statement said both sides in Djibouti were united on the urgent need to address the crisis.
"The parties reaffirmed their strong determination to help ensure unhindered humanitarian access and assistance," it added.
The number of Somalis desperately needing food aid could reach 3.5 million people later this year -- nearly half the population, but the international donors have only funded about a third of a $637 million aid appeal, according to the U.N.
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