Somali PM Says Iran,Libya,Egypt Backing Militants
Copyright © 2006, Dow Jones Newswires
(Updates with denial from Islamic official)
BAIDOA, Somalia (AP)--Somalia's prime minister Saturday accused Egypt, Libya and Iran of providing weapons for Islamic militants who have seized control of much of this country's south, citing unnamed sources within his government.
"Egypt, Libya and Iran, whom we thought were friends, are engaged in fueling the conflict in Somalia by supporting the terrorists," Prime Minister Mohammed Ali Gedi said.
The accusations came as Somalia's already-weak government was unraveling. Two lawmakers were shot this week - one fatally - and Gedi was facing a no-confidence vote after 18 lawmakers resigned from his administration.
The leader of the Islamic militia, Sheik Hassan Dahir Aweys, denied receiving support from the three countries and said Gedi was "trying to distract attention from his own troubles."
The militia, known as the Supreme Islamic Courts Council has steadily gained power in recent months, raising fears of an emerging Taliban-style regime. The United States accuses the group of harboring al-Qaida leaders responsible for deadly bombings at the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998.
"We call for the international community to put pressure on these countries who want the problems in Somalia to continue," Gedi said.
Earlier Saturday, the prime minister was among hundreds who attended the funeral for Abdallah Isaaq Deerow, the minister for constitutional and federal affairs, who was shot outside a mosque as he walked out of Friday prayers.
Seven people have been arrested in Deerow's death, but authorities had no further details, according to Police Chief Aadin Biid.
The shooting enraged hundreds of Somalis, who rioted in the streets Friday, screaming, "We want a government that can restore law and order!"
"We condemn this wicked action, and the government will chase the murderers and treat them with an iron hand," the government's information minister, Mohamed Abdi Hayir, said.
Two days earlier, Mohammed Ibrahim Mohammed, chairman of the parliamentary committee for constitutional affairs, was shot and wounded. It was not immediately clear whether the shootings were connected, although the men had worked together.
"If we don't express our anger we are afraid the killings may continue. We want to encourage the government to identify the culprits," said Baidoa resident Shafarah Younis, as nearly 400 people shouted and set fires near the presidential compound.
Somalia has been without an effective central government since warlords toppled dictator Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991 and then turned on each other, carving much of the country into armed camps ruled by violence and clan law.
The government was established nearly two years ago with the support of the U.N. but has failed to assert any power outside its base in Baidoa, 250 kilometers from the capital, Mogadishu. The administration was in turmoil this week when 18 key ministers resigned, saying the government has failed to bring peace.
The Islamic militia has rallied even more supporters by condemning reports that troops from neighboring Ethiopia have entered the country to protect the fragile government. Ethiopia is Somalia's traditional enemy, although Somalia's president has asked for its support - a decision that infuriated many Somalis.
Deerow, the politician who was killed Friday, was "an ardent supporter of close ties with Ethiopia," his friend, Ali Mohamed Ahmed Daon, told The Associated Press. Deerow was a secondary school teacher before entering politics in the 1990s.
The U.N. special envoy to Somalia, Francois Lonseny Fall, said he was appalled by Friday's shooting. "I offer my condolences to Mr. Deerow's family and appeal for calm in what is already a turbulent moment in Somalia's recent history," he said.
Somali PM Says Iran,Libya,Egypt Backing Militants
