Yaabka Recall how Muqdishu was before it was invaded. Somalis can do it again. Forget about ICU etc, but that episode proved to us that we can handle our own affairs without the intereference from outsiders.

French vote: Musilm vote 'could tip the scales' 18-04-2007 Paris, (AKI) - The 1.5 million Muslims eligible to vote in Sunday's presidential election - three percent of the electorate - could make or break contenders in the race, according to a spokesman for France's largest conservative Muslim group, UOIF. And Muslim voters' recollection of candidates' statement or actions that have offended Islam will in large part determine who they back , UOIF's press spokesman, Boukhazar al-Bashir, told Adnkronos International (AKI). Current presidential frontrunner, the rightwing UMP party candidate and former interior minister Nicolas Sarkozy initially gained the confidence of Muslims, declaring that "our Muslim citizens have the same rights enjoyed by others." The French government in which Sarkozy served set up the The French Council for the Muslim Faith (CFCM) to give it a single official interlocutor for France's five million-strong Muslim community and to discourage what France's interior minister Nicolas Sarkozy has called "the Islam of basements and garages". The CFCM has become a recognised public institution, with responsibility for the funding and planning of mosques, allocation of space in cemeteries, and the appointment of clerics in prisons and the armed forces. He also sought to give public funding to mosque building and training of local imams to remove control of these by hardliners. However Sarkozy's popularity with Muslims fell after he made remarks on French television saying: "In France, we don't slaughter sheep in the bathroom sink." More recently his public support for the editor of satirical French weekly Charlie Hebdo who Muslim groups failed to sue for publishing cartoon satirising the Prophet Mohammed angered Muslims . "Muslims will not vote for people who have offended them," UOIF president Thami Breze told AKI. France's Socialist party candidate Segolene Royal also riled Muslims when in a television address she likened women wearing the face-veil to victims of rape and domestic violence and declared: "Islam runs contrary to the values of the French Republic and human rights." Since her remarks, made in December - when 55 percent of Muslims said they would vote for her according to an opion poll published around that time - Royal's popularity has dropped. In his address to UOIF's 24th annual meeting last weekend, UOIF vice-president Fuad Alawi urged thousands of Muslims attending the conference not to vote for Sarkozy or Royal or other "extremist candidates." Muslims should however exercise their right to vote, he said. Royal is currently running second in opinion polls, behind Sarkozy and ahead of centrist UDF party candidate and far-right anti-immigrant National Front party candidate Jean-Marie Le Pen. There are a total 12 hopefuls running for president. No candidate is expected to obtain a majority in the first round of voting and Sarkozy and Royal are predicted to vie in a 6 May run-off. Bayrou's religious faith is seen by many Muslims as a "positive factor" and they have "bonded spiritually" with him, believing he may be better able to understand their community's needs. Bayrou did not back the 2003 French law forbidding the veil and othe religious symbols in French schools and public offices, one of Bayrou's advisors, Aziz Sunni, told AKI. Moreover, he is not opposed to Muslim senior schools in France. Sunni said. Disillusionment with Socialist and UMP parties and fear of extremism is driving many Muslims into the arms of the centrist candidate. Although Bayrou does not hide his Catholic faith, he has stressed his respect for all religions. In a recent interview with La Croix newspaper, Bayrou said: "The state must assist in the creation of a French Islam if Muslims request this. If a new family arrives in the village it should not be rejected." French Muslims generally feel frustrated at the failure of French politics - on the right and the left - to deliver on many of its promises. There is still not a single Muslim politician in in the French parliament, athough there are three Muslim senators. This figure is however "inadequate," French Muslim senator Halima Boumedienne, told AKI. Boumedienne appealed to more Muslims to join political parties to "enable them to take part in the country's political life. "The Muslim or the Arab vote doesn't exist in France, but rather that of marginalised people whose rights have been denied," she said. The few Muslims who support Le Pen do so "to express their rejection of the current system," said women's rights activiist Hamida Ben Saida. "Le Pen wants to destroy everything and some back him as an act of revenge against the left and the right - without questioning his racism," she said. National Front vice-president and Euro MP Marine Le Pen told AKI she didn't think her father's campaign needed "dialogue with Muslims." Religion should remain within the private sphere and the state should not interfere in religious matters or fund religious institutions, she said. "The veil is a matter of personal freedom and I do not believe it should be banned in public places." None of the presidential candidates has in their campaign proposed amending France's 1905 legislation separating Church and State, which some have criticised for omitting references to the Muslim faith. Sarkozy has however called for "receptive secularism." http://www.muslimnews.co.uk/news/news.php?article=12622

Norf U qalee qofta. Let her do her backtracking hoos hoos. Her conscience is getting to her.

Dear me The question arises from your analysis is: Are the muslims so naive/ignorant that it is easy for the west to create mess between them? We arent giving Somalis/Muslims in general enough credit to wisen up.

Is how I would feel if I went here. Not sure I could wander around this one with the general public. Its hard to know where porn ends and education starts sometimes. Let's talk about sex in the city By Martin Edwards BBC News, London The organisers expect half-a-million visitors in the first year The BBC's editorial guidelines on sex are clear: "In all BBC output, the portrayal of sex, or the exploration of sexual issues, should be editorially justified with appropriate sensitivity." With this in mind, I venture rather timidly into Amora - a new £7m visitor attraction in London dedicated to love, sex and relationships. The tone is set from the very beginning. As I walk down the steps and leave behind the hustle and bustle of Piccadilly, I am greeted by the omniscient and sensual voice of a woman enticingly whispering sweet nothings. Once downstairs, the pace and flow of street level has been completely replaced by something altogether different. The reception area offers a taste of what is to come. Visitors walk to the sound of calm soothing music, psychedelic images and red-coloured walls. Sex therapists Beyond here lay the seven interactive zones, covering every aspect of sexual relationships from first flirtations and dating, to sexual health and wellbeing. Wall graphics, video clips, interactive touch screens, life-sized interactive exhibits as well as a dedicated sex therapist are all on hand to give the visitor an array of information, tips and ideas. Marketing director Lisa Seddon said: "There's a layering affect to our approach here. "How much detail you go into is entirely up to you." The Love & Desire zone introduces visitors to the powers of attraction and seduction. The British have been very reserved about sex but are now more open than they have ever been Dr Sarah Brewer, director of exhibits The Sensorium zone encourages people to explore all the erogenous zones with multi-media models wired to respond to every touch. It is here that I encounter a rather unique wall hanging which consists of the casts of dozens of genitalia offered by brave and willing volunteers. "The aim of this really is to show the diversity of size and shapes that human genitalia comes in," said Ms Seddon. Sex toys in one particular display ranged in appearance from mantle piece ornaments to more industrial looking devices. Corporate responsibility But beyond the fun there is a serious message. Under 18s will be invited to the academy area of the exhibition in a bid to contribute some way to a better understanding of sex and sexual health among teenagers. Also, the academy will soon host workshops on sexual health and sexual relationships, led by in-house therapists. "There's a great need for information about sex and love," said Dr Sarah Brewer, director of exhibits. "The British have been very reserved about sex but are now more open than they have ever been. "We do it but are embarrassed about talking about it. Amora is about taking the embarrassment out and putting in the fun." http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/6563441.stm

This was never about Shia and Sunni. I agree that there was resentment and distrust but this out and out war was the result of American/UK interference. I am not convinced that this is solely the work of Arabs/Persians. It would be ****** to deny an element of fanatics, committed to killing with impunity but I am certain that US/UK has a hand in these mass murders. You onlu have to look at Somalia and how they have meddled into our affairs when things werent going as they wanted to. It is all done behind the scenes.

^^ That was my first thought. Muslims couldnt possibly massacre these people because it will make the US stay even longer. An excuse. If it muslims, what are they acheiving? I cant see it. This convinces me more that there are other forces at play.

Put a sock in it people.

Salaam North Who on earth would do such a thing? It truly baffles me. How will this help acheive their goals?

Salaam What is with these so-called leaders without principles? I held high regards for Sh Sharif however when he now allies himself with Aideed who helped bring the Ethiopians to our lands and was a strong supporter, it makes me think that we really dont have strong leaders here. If Aideed gets a better offer from Ethiopians/TFG, what is to stop him returning to them? And now Qeybdiid is a police chief? Ka daroo dibi dhal!

Val I have my moments So you are off to down under? Alle ha kuu sahlo. I couldnt sit through all those hours. Travel safely. Iska ilaali deep vein thrombosis. Take aspirin before travelling to avoid possible DVT.

There is nothing freaky about mistaking a gent for a lady. Happens to the best of us (I couldnt decide whether to address you "my dear lad" or is it "my dear lass" as there is no indication to your gender but i could haphazard guess that you'd be a lad)

lol@didgeridoo..I can see NG playing with his didgeridoo! what an image! Sorry..I will resist making any jokes

Intriguing..do tell us more!

Oh Lord..wuu i dhakray! Seriously though, I always imagined him to be a lady. Dont know whatever gave me that impression. Makes me think if I got other nomads wrong..like JB..you are boy..erm..man right?

Worse stories Justice? Would you be so kind to share ?

^^ Ok..I will bite.. Pls do share these oft-mentioned memories!

^^ Just yourself daahling. He would be happy with that

^^ Dont pay attention to the highly strung and the uptight. They are just jealous of our fluid, easy going, warm hearted, relaxed, fairly mellow, mutually respectful, fun to watch, no pressure and no is-gadid conversation. We are great ambassadors for SOL .

I thought Timacadeh was a girl.

Try again. We need to pretend that we are from the high class end and can have sophisticated convo. No one will mistake post1 for sophistication. Lets be like snooty la-di-da folks. There is a little room to get "above yourself" From now on I’d much rather deal with posh folks than common people.

Waa runtii..When you are at certain age, musqulaha godadka ah makuu fiicno. Ruumitiisimo waa ye. NG knows it too well

Waa laga cabaadey this neighbourhood (women section) nimanyahow. Guess whose fault it is?

This story was reported on BBC TV Breakfast news this morning although I can't find a link. WiFi users who've not got around to reading their user manuals and securing their wireless/WiFi networks with passwords can/will be investigated by the police if the connection is used by an unauthorised criminal. One detective, on this morning's BBC news, said that if we see illegal usage on your connection (credit card fraud, kiddie porno, etc) it's your home we will raid with a warrant, your home that we will search and your equiptment we will seize. Criminal are apparently sitting outside unsuspecting homes in cars and vans and abusing un-secured connections. Best practice - sort out your WiFi connection. http://news.independent.co.uk/world/science_technology/article2336167.ece

Nifty dressers on show. One particlar backless top ayaa ii muuqda. My life must be sheltered as I havent seen people like this before.