Somali Islamists Renew Rejection Of Foreign Peacekeepers
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Officials from the Supreme Islamic Courts, from left to right, Sheikh Abdirahman Janagow, Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Abdulkadi Ali, during their meeting with officials from AU and Arab League
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Mogadishu, Somalia, July 6, 2006 – Islamic authorities in Somalia have renewed their objections to a proposed foreign peacekeeping force.
Members of Somalia's Supreme Islamic Courts Council emphasized their position during a meeting with Arab and African officials in the capital, Mogadishu Thursday.
The court leaders described foreign peacekeepers as "alien forces" and said their presence would be both unnecessary and counter-productive.
Somalia's U.N.-backed transitional government has called for an African peacekeeping force to stabilize the mostly-lawless country. Somalia has not had an effective central authority for 15 years.
Islamic courts are attempting to impose strict sharia (Islamic) law over areas in their control, which include Mogadishu and much of country's south.
On Tuesday, fighters loyal to the courts shot and killed two people during a protest against a ban on watching the World Cup.
Court leaders and government officials reached a cease-fire and mutual recognition agreement last month in Sudan. The sides are scheduled to meet again in Khartoum beginning July 15.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP
Source: VOA News
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