Somalia President Says Foreign Fighter Are Aiding the Insurgents

Hiiraan Online
Sunday, June 28, 2009

Somali President Sheikh Sharif Sh. Ahmed- Photo HOL

At a press conference held today in Mogadishu, the President of Somalia Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed told reporters that foreign fighters are present in Mogadishu supporting Islamic insurgents who are trying to overthrow the Transitional Federal Government (TFG).
 
“My friend Sheik Hassan Dahir and I did not agree to bring foreign fighters into the country. We agreed to free the country from occupation and bring back its nationhood” said the President adding that he told his former colleague and now his arch enemy Sheik Hasan Dahir who is the leader of Hisbul Islam that foreign fighters are in Somalia to deny Somalis peace and security.
 
“All of us know and can see the presence of foreign fighters in Mogadishu” said the President in response to a question of how he can prove that foreign fighters are in Mogadishu.
 
 The President said that his government will spare no effort to restore peace and security to the government and to defeat insurgents with the support of the Somali people.
 
The President accused the leader of Hisbul Islam Sheik Hassan Dahir for bringing Eritrean military advisors whom he said are fighting along side his troops and planning and directing his military operations. The Present added that Sheik Hasan Dahir is on a dangerous course which can lead to irreversible damage to the country.
 
The President said that if Sheik Hassan Dahir is seeking political power, he should do so through lawful and peaceful manner and added that power cannot be gained through the barrel of the gun. “I am telling Sheikh Hassan that he cannot attain his political ambitions by shedding the blood of Somalis” added the President.
 
The President thanked the Ugandan and Burundian governments whose troops supported the TFG. The President added that he expects additional AMISOM troops to be brought to Somalia, particularly Mogadishu to assist the TFG to bring back peace and security to Somalia. 
 
The President concluded his remarks by congratulating Somalia and Djibouti people on the anniversary of their independence days on June 26 (Northern Somalia) and June 27 (Djibouti).