The President of the Republic of Djibouti, Ismail Omar Guelleh, speaking to Associated Press in Djibouti, Monday, March 5, 2007. The president said on Monday, the region is no safer since an Islamic group accused of having ties with Al-Qaida was driven out of Somalia (AP Photo/Sayyid Azim)

DJIBOUTI, March 05, 2007 – The Horn of Africa is not safer now that a radical Islamic militia accused of having ties to al-Qaida has been driven from power in Somalia, the president of neighboring Djibouti said Monday.

"As far as we are concerned, we think it (security in the Horn of Africa) is as it was before because of the misery and lack of basic needs of the population," President Ismael Omar Guelleh told The Associated Press in a rare interview. He spoke at the presidential palace in this tiny Red Sea state.

"People lack basic needs. There is no medicine, no water or services, nothing. They are easily used for criminal activities. That threat still remains," he said.

More than 90 million people live in the Horn of Africa countries of Djibouti, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Somalia. Most live on less than US$1 (76 euro cents) a day. The region — particularly Somalia, which is emerging from years of anarchy — has been cited as a possible haven for terrorists since the Sept. 11, 2001 al-Qaida terror attacks on the United States.

Djibouti is the base for a U.S.-led anti-terrorism task force in the Horn of Africa. More than 1,800 U.S. troops are based at Camp Lemonier, the task force headquarters.

Guelleh told The Associated Press that no al-Qaida terrorists or sophisticated weapons had been found. Somalia's government had linked the Islamic group to al-Qaida. The government, backed by Ethiopian troops, ousted the Islamic movement in December.

Djibouti , a former French colony neighboring Somalia and Ethiopia, played a key role in establishing a Somali transitional government in 2000 that eventually collapsed. The administration was replaced after lengthy negotiations by the current administration, set up in 2004 with U.N. backing.

Guelleh, who was returned to power in 2005 elections where he was the only candidate, said foreign peacekeepers can help offer security in the country but not lasting peace.

"The stabilization force will help but they cannot play the role of government, or parliament or clan or religious leaders ...," he said.

"There was a possible justification (for the ousting of the Islamic group), but we have not seen the evidence yet," the president added.

Source: AP