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| Africa Horn |
| Somalia opposition sets condition for talks |
| 2008-06-03 |
| Somalia's opposition alliance on Monday ruled out direct peace talks with the country's transitional government unless it sets a timetable for the withdrawal of Ethiopian troops. Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf, however, at a separate meeting with the United Nations Security Council, said the Ethiopian force backing his fragile government would not leave until fighting stops and a U.N. peacekeeping force is deployed. Leaders of the Security Council delegation were upbeat about their talks with both parties, but the comments by the government and opposition Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia made clear that there is still a wide gap that must be bridged before a peace process can be launched. The 15-member council came to neighboring Djibouti to encourage the Somalian government and the opposition alliance, which is based in Eritrea, to hold direct talks to end 18 years of violence and conflict. Somalia has been in a state of anarchy since warlords overthrew dictator Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991, and violence has escalated. Britain's U.N. ambassador John Sawers, who is co-leading the mission, has said the council is concerned over the threat to a fragile 2005 peace agreement that ended Sudan's 21-year civil war between the Arab-dominated government in the north and southern rebels. The Somali government delegation and the U.N. had been hoping for a face-to-face session between the two parties. Somalia's Information Minister Ahmed Abdisalan said the government wants an agreement to stop all hostilities and start a dialogue on peace. "I am willing to do whatever it takes to promote peace and stability in Somalia," said President Yusuf, who was the target of a mortar attack by Islamic insurgents as he was leaving for Djibouti on Sunday. Abdulrahman Abdishakur Warsane, vice-chairman of the opposition alliance known by its initials, ARS, said: "We told the Security Council that the ARS is ready for peace and we are committed for peace." But he stressed that the Ethiopian presence was the main obstacle to peace. Regional countries mediated an agreement on a transitional government in 2004, but it remains very weak. The countries called in troops from neighboring Ethiopia in December 2006 to oust Islamic militants who had control of the capital and most of southern Somalia. Despite their ouster, the Islamic insurgents remain a potent and disruptive force in the country and a continuing threat to Yussuf's government, which is backed by both the European Union and the United States. The insurgents are not participating in the meetings in Djibouti. |
| Posted by:Fred |