Militant leader accuses Djibouti of fueling Somali crisis

Friday, October 16, 2009

Mogadishu, Somalia (APA) - The leader of Somali Islamist rebel group Hezbal Islam Sheik Hassan Dahir Aweys on Friday accused the government of neighboring Djibouti of fueling the political crisis and long-running conflicts in Somalia.

Talking to reporters in the Elasha Biyaha neighborhood outside Mogadishu on Friday the militant leader said the people in Djibouti are brothers of Somalia but their government is siding with what he described as the enemy of Somalia.

He called on the people of Djibouti to put pressure on their government to stop interfering in Somali affairs.

“I am very sorry that Djibouti’s government has joined the enemy-backed campaign against Somalia’s Muslim people. We call on the government in Djibouti to stop such policy which will harm fraternity and brotherhood between both countries,” Sheik Aweys said.

Aweys is the leader of the second most powerful Islamist rebel group in Somalia which is now at war with its former ally, the Al-Qaeda-inspired Al-Shabab movement.

Both Islamist rebel groups control much of south-central Somali regions and about 70% of the restive capital Mogadishu.

Source: APA, Oct 16, 2009