Somali Leaders Call for Immediate And Unconditional Withdrawal of Invading Ethiopian Forces

Asmara, April 18, 2007 – Somali leaders who have been holding a meeting here from April 10 to 17 on the objective situation in their country have called for the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of the invading Ethiopian forces.

In a joint communiqué they issued following their week-long meeting, the Spokesman of the Somali Parliament, Sherif Hassan Sheik Aden, the Chairman of the Executive Council of the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC), Sheik Sheirf Sheik Ahmed and Eng. Hussein Mohammed Farah Aideed expressed thanks to the Government of Eritrea and particularly to President Isaias Afwerki for the role he is playing to promote a solution to the Somali issue by the Somali themselves. They asserted that the people of Somalia have the capacity and potential to resolve their issue themselves.

In the 11- point joint communiqué, the Somali leaders referred to the 15 failed peace processes starting from 1991 due to external interferences, they underlined that first and foremost the invading forces should withdraw if national reconciliation is to be achieved as well as peace and stability to be ascertained in Somalia.

The Somali leaders further pointed out that “the so-called peacekeeping force is a ‘Trojan horse’ for the TPLF regime’s invasion”, and they underscored that its silence and failure to take any measures in the face of the war crimes perpetrated against the Somali people by the regime proves such a conspiracy.

Pointing out that US policy in Somalia is a destructive one as it undermines the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity in violation of the Charter principles of the AU and UN, they indicated that the facts on the grounds regarding Washington’s role confirms US support to the invading Ethiopian forces.

In conclusion, Sherif Hassan Sheik Aden, Sheik Sheirf Sheik Ahmed and Eng. Hussein Mohammed Farah Aideed disclosed that in the event the invading force does not withdraw peacefully, the Somali people have risen up in unison to drive it out by force.

The press conference at Hager Media Hall with in the premises of the Ministry of Information was broadcast live through ERI-TV, the Voice of the Broad masses of Eritrea and Aljazeera TV respectively, and was attended by a number of diplomats, local and foreign journalists and invited guests.

Source: Shabait.com

Home | Contact us | Links | Archives