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Arab League Secretary General Amr Mussa |
CAIRO – The Arab League has called for an end of support to Somali warlords and urged all to back the transitional government, as Islamic militias tighten their grip in much of the lawless country.
“The situation in Somalia requires immediate end of support to the so-called warlords,” Arab League Secretary General Amr Mussa told reporters.
Continued support for the warlords, Mussa warned, will “return us to square one. The situation necessitates support for the legitimate Somali government and help to achieve security and stability in Somalia,” he added.
Mussa’s comment came as hardline Islamic militia on Wednesday captured the town of Jowhar, last stronghold of what is widely believed to be a US-backed warlord alliance.
The militias vowed to establish Sharia courts, cementing their victory after more than four months of fighting which has left some 350 people dead and upwards of 2,000 wounded, many of them civilians.
The League also voiced displeasure at not being invited to join a US-sponsored international “contact group” on Somalia.
The group was expected to meet in New York on Thursday to discuss ways of propping up the transitional government.
“The Arab League hopes the US administration reviews the contact group to include the most important international and regional players on the Somali issue, including the Arab League,” its top Horn of Africa official, Samir Hosni, said.
The Horn of Africa nation and member of the Arab League was plunged into anarchy with the 1991 ousting of strongman Mohamed Siad Barre.
Source: AFP, June 15, 2006
