Somalia premier holds a news conference over Mogadishu fighting

By Aweys Osman Yusuf

Mogadishu, 23 April.2007 - Somalia premier, Ali Mohammed Gedi, has held a press conference in the Somali capital Mogadishu on Monday as fighting between government troops backed by Ethiopian forces and Islamic insurgents, along with clan militias intensified.

Mr. Gedi said the fighting in the capital and elsewhere in the country was motivated and organized by what he called terrorists based in Mogadishu.

“The fighting that took place in Harad where Somaliland and Puntland troops fought and the gun battle in Kismayo were clearly managed by terrorists,” he said.

He accused Eritrea of arming and training Islamists in the self-declared government of Somaliland. “The terrorists who were trained in Somaliland attack the bases under TFG (Transitional Federal Government) administration,” he said.

He also pointed out that international organizations were involved in Somalia violence. “Some international organizations are busy arranging false accusations of war crimes in Somalia against Ethiopia,” he said.

Speaking about the fighting in Mogadishu, Gedi said the government troops backed by Ethiopian and AU troops were battling with Islamists insurgents based in north of the capital, adding that his deputy prime minister, Hussein Aided, was cutting the tree he climbed on. “Hussein Aideed should be ashamed of himself. He is go on the path of those before him,” he said.

The premier’s news conference comes as Somali government soldiers were evicted out of the port town of Kismayo after heavy gun battle between rival clans, Marehan and Majegten, clashed on Monday.

Shabelle reporter in Kismayo, Ahmed, said the fighting stopped around 2;00 Pm local time when clan militias took control of the town.

Source: Sh.M.Network