Abdulkadir Khalif
28 June 2009
Mogadishu — President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed today blamed Eritrea for backing Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys, the leader of Hizbu Islam.
The President said the Islamists, he once worked with, were keeping pressure on the Somali Government with the help of Eritrean army. President Ahmed made the remarks at Villa Somalia, the State House in Mogadishu.
"We had been very close (with Aweys) for a number of years, but he opted to follow a wrong path," said President Ahmed. "I would advise him to refrain from misdeeds," he added.
These terrorists
President Ahmed said that his government was at war with al-Qaeda elements that have come to attack Somalia.
"Non-Somali fighters have been spotted in many places," said the President. "These terrorists are here to prevent the Somali people from rebuilding their statehood."
The leader of the TFG thanked the African Union Mission in Somalia, Amisom, for helping the Somali people.
He said he hoped the number and clout of the peacekeepers will be increased.
On Friday and Saturday, President Ahmed congratulated the people in Somalia and Djibouti on their independence days.
June 26 marked the 49th anniversary of the independence of the former British Somaliland in 1960 (that united with the rest of Somalia on July 1, 1960 and then self-declared independence on May 18, 1991).
Djibouti attained its independence from France some 32 years ago, in 1977.
Despite the continuous wars, the President has reiterated that his government would lead Somalia to stability and development.
"We have been forced to fight by anti-peace groups and we are going to win," he said.
At the time of the press conference at Villa Somalia, heavy shelling was taking place at Karan District in North Mogadishu and parts of Hodon and Howl-wadaag Districts in South Mogadishu.
Reported dead
Three people were reported dead and scores of others injured, according to an ambulance servicemen.
Meanwhile, Sheikh Musse Abdi Arale, a member of the Shura (Council) of Hizbu Islam, told the local media that the US was responsible for the mayhem in Somalia.
He insisted that the US has always intervened in the internal affairs of Somalia.
"For half a century, the US has been following plans to harm the Somali people," said Sheikh Musse.
He added that the American governments exploited Somalia's natural resources by employing local stooges.
Sheikh Musse was reacting to reports that the US had delivered arms and ammunition to the Transitional Federal Government.
"This delivery of arms and ammunitions to Somalia is an indication that the US is not interested in the stability of Somalia," stated the sheikh.
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