by The Media Line Staff
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Hundreds of tribal leaders and dignitaries from around the east-African nation have gathered in Mogadishu in an attempt to put an end to years of unrest and violence. Nevertheless, the conference does not include members of the Supreme Council of Islamic Courts (SCIC), an organization that forcibly took control of the country in 2006 and was ousted in January 2007.
During the talks, the tribal leaders decided on the disarming of all the tribal armed groups and their recruitment into the official armed forces, ending all pending disputes between the Somali tribes and returning all properties to their original owners.
Meanwhile, violence continues in the eastern province of Hiran, where two tribes – Murusadi and Hawadili – are fighting over grazing lands. Recent reports indicate that hundreds of families have escaped Hiran, following the resumption of the conflict.
In Mogadishu 10 people, including a number of policemen, were wounded when a police patrol was attacked in the southern neighborhood, Bar Ubah.
Source: The Media Line, Aug 22, 2007