Somali militia talks collapse, new fight threatens
MOGADISHU, March 29 (Reuters) - Talks between militias who unleashed the worst clashes in years in Mogadishu collapsed on Wednesday, fuelling fears last week's fighting could resume and spread to the seat of government.
Islamist militia seized a seaport and airstrip formerly controlled by warlord Bashir Raghe in four days of clashes with the town's most powerful warlords. Between 70 and 90 people were killed.
Since the fighting ended on Sunday, religious leaders and elders have been trying to broker a full ceasefire, but the warlord alliance - which dubbed itself the "Anti-terrorism Coalition" - has not taken part.
"The talks have collapsed since they have failed to attend sittings," Islamist militia leader Siyad Mohamed told Reuters. "It looks like they are ready for new fighting."
Raghe could not be reached for comment on his mobile phone.
The warlords have been holding their own meetings, fuelling fears among the Islamists, who are linked to Mogadishu's Islamic courts, that they were buying time to re-arm.
Local media said a large shipment of weapons had been delivered to a militia led by warlord Mohamed Dheere. He met the coalition in Mogadishu before returning to his stronghold in Jowhar, the temporary government seat 90 km (56 miles) north. The media reports could not be immediately confirmed.
"If he returns to Mogadishu, we will attack Jowhar," the Islamist militia's Siyad Mohamed said. "We have our own loyal militia near Jowhar."
Dheere did not answer calls to his mobile phone.
US BACKING?
Many in Somalia suspect the United States has backed the warlord coalition as part of its anti-terrorism war.
That has given Islamist groups - most notably the Islamic courts who have brought order to some parts of Mogadishu by imposing sharia law - another rallying cry against warlords with whom they compete for control of the seaside city.
Within hours of the coalition's creation last month, its gunmen and the Islamist militia clashed, killing 37 people.
The Mogadishu conflicts have already shaken efforts to heal a rift that has all but paralysed Somalia's interim government since it was formed at peace talks in Kenya in late 2004.
Most of the warlords are legislators of ministers, while the Islamist factions have allies in the government.
Were the fight to spread to Jowhar, it could damage one of President Abdullahi Yusuf's few achievements - creating a relatively stable home for his fractious administration.
He argues Mogadishu - where he is an outsider - must first be made safe before the government moves there.
Yusuf's reputed intolerance for religious extremism and long relationship with Ethiopia - Washington's strongest anti-terrorism ally in the Horn of Africa - has put him at odds with Islamist leaders in Mogadishu.
Warlords have controlled the nation of 10 million since deposing dictator Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991. Yusuf's administration is the 14th try at creating an effective government there since then.
Islamist militia seized a seaport and airstrip formerly controlled by warlord Bashir Raghe in four days of clashes with the town's most powerful warlords. Between 70 and 90 people were killed.
Since the fighting ended on Sunday, religious leaders and elders have been trying to broker a full ceasefire, but the warlord alliance - which dubbed itself the "Anti-terrorism Coalition" - has not taken part.
"The talks have collapsed since they have failed to attend sittings," Islamist militia leader Siyad Mohamed told Reuters. "It looks like they are ready for new fighting."
Raghe could not be reached for comment on his mobile phone.
The warlords have been holding their own meetings, fuelling fears among the Islamists, who are linked to Mogadishu's Islamic courts, that they were buying time to re-arm.
Local media said a large shipment of weapons had been delivered to a militia led by warlord Mohamed Dheere. He met the coalition in Mogadishu before returning to his stronghold in Jowhar, the temporary government seat 90 km (56 miles) north. The media reports could not be immediately confirmed.
"If he returns to Mogadishu, we will attack Jowhar," the Islamist militia's Siyad Mohamed said. "We have our own loyal militia near Jowhar."
Dheere did not answer calls to his mobile phone.
US BACKING?
Many in Somalia suspect the United States has backed the warlord coalition as part of its anti-terrorism war.
That has given Islamist groups - most notably the Islamic courts who have brought order to some parts of Mogadishu by imposing sharia law - another rallying cry against warlords with whom they compete for control of the seaside city.
Within hours of the coalition's creation last month, its gunmen and the Islamist militia clashed, killing 37 people.
The Mogadishu conflicts have already shaken efforts to heal a rift that has all but paralysed Somalia's interim government since it was formed at peace talks in Kenya in late 2004.
Most of the warlords are legislators of ministers, while the Islamist factions have allies in the government.
Were the fight to spread to Jowhar, it could damage one of President Abdullahi Yusuf's few achievements - creating a relatively stable home for his fractious administration.
He argues Mogadishu - where he is an outsider - must first be made safe before the government moves there.
Yusuf's reputed intolerance for religious extremism and long relationship with Ethiopia - Washington's strongest anti-terrorism ally in the Horn of Africa - has put him at odds with Islamist leaders in Mogadishu.
Warlords have controlled the nation of 10 million since deposing dictator Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991. Yusuf's administration is the 14th try at creating an effective government there since then.
posted by Marko at 3/29/2006 07:54:00 AM
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