August 07, 2006 – BBC MONITORING INTERNATIONAL REPORTS

Excerpt from report by Somali Radio HornAfrik on 7 August

[Presenter] The chairman of Somaliland's opposition Kulmiye [Unity] Party, Ahmad Sillanyo, has for the first time given his views on changes taking place in Mogadishu and how differences between the Union of Islamic Courts [UIC] and the federal government could be resolved. Hassan Kafi Qoyste has the details.

[Reporter] The chairman of the opposition Kulmiye Party, Ahmad Sillanyo, has commented on the changes and peace that has taken place in Mogadishu city, brought about by the UIC. Mr. Sillanyo said his party was welcoming the peace restored in areas controlled by the Islamic courts. Hailing the Islamic courts, he said they had done something which for 16 years the former faction leaders could not achieve.

On the rift between the Islamic courts and the federal government, Mr. Sillanyo said everything should be resolved through dialogue.

[Sillanyo] The interim government and the Islamic courts in Mogadishu as well as in other regions who have differences, as far as our side is concerned - the party and people of Somaliland - we would very much like to see that any sort of differences be resolved through good understanding and dialogue, so that the country is not plunged again into civil wars, bloodshed and destruction that had shocked the public and the international community. That is what we would all very much like to see.

The other things we would very much like to see is that no external hand is involved in the country's affairs - touching on the Somali people or their territory.

We also want to see the Islamic courts themselves adopt a moderate political position that could spearhead the unity of the people, a position that does not create any kind of fear or concern in this region where we live, in the Horn of Africa and the world in general.

(?if it [the courts] becomes rigid) and does not clarify its territorial interests, the problems will be continuing. There are countries or people who could be worried, among them neighboring countries such as Ethiopia. The Islamic courts should make it clear to them that there is nothing to worry about and that the courts are aiming to live peacefully with everyone else. They should make this clear in words and come up with mature [last word in English] politics, this is what we would very much like to see.

[Reporter] Mr. Sillanyo further hailed the agreement reached by top leaders of the federal government, saying whoever had mediated or worked for the agreement should not be viewed badly, because the agreement was a step forward.

[Passage omitted; on Mr. Sillanyo's comment on resent reshuffle of Somaliland's cabinet]

Source: Radio HornAfrik, Mogadishu, in Somali 0500 GMT 7 Aug 06

Source: BBC Monitoring