Jacaylbaro Posted May 27, 2009 MOGADISHU (AFP) — President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed on Wednesday accused Eritrea of arming hardline Islamists fighting to oust his government, a day after his own palace came under a barrage of mortar shells. It is the first time he directly pointed a finger at the small African nation since the eruption early this month of some of the heaviest onslaughts against his four-months-old government. "We know for sure that the majority of the weapons in the hands of the insurgents are coming from Eritrea," he told foreign reporters at his Mogadishu Villa Somalia headquarters and targetted residence. "Eritrea is very much involved here," he said in response to a question adding: "We know that Eritrean officers come here and bring money in cash." He said Asmara's intention in backing the radical Islamists was to create a base to train units to wage guerrilla war against its arch-foe Ethiopia. "Since there is a war and tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea, Eritrea needs a place where Ethiopian opposition groups could be trained," he said. "They want to destabilise Ethiopia from Somalia." Relations between Ethiopia and Eritrea have been tense ever since a devastating border war in the late 1990s in which some 80,000 people died. Eritrea was vehemently opposed to the deployment of Ethiopian troops in Somalia in late 2006 and pulled out of a regional bloc in protest. Asked whether he backed a re-deployment of Ethiopian troops in the face of the renewed attacks, Sharif said "absolutely not". "We would like our country to remain independent." Residents in a Somalia border town with Ethiopia recently said they saw Ethiopian troops in there, but Sharif said authorities had discussed the matter "and they have agreed that Ethiopian troops will remain inside their border". The US and African Union have accused Eritrea of fuelling the violence in Somalia, a charge Eritrea denies. African countries have called for the imposition of United Nations sanctions on Asmara. Islamist fighters opposed to Sharif launched the latest onslaught on May 7, vowing to topple his Western-backed government. More than 200 people have been killed and some 62,000 Mogadishu residents have fled the clashes in the past 20 days. Sharif has been holed up in his presidential compound under the protection of AU peacekeepers. His government, which has been confined to parts of the capital, took up power in Mogadishu in January after a UN-sponsored reconciliation process. But the hardline Islamists, believed to be propped up by hundreds of foreign jihadists, want to impose a stricter Sharia law in the lawless country and are opposed to the presence of the AU peacekeeping mission known as AMISOM. The UN Security Council on Tuesday extended AMISOM's mandate to January 2010. The Shebab, a homegrown radical group whose leaders are suspected of links to Al-Qaeda, and the Hezb al-Islamiya armed group loyal to hardline opposition leader Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys have been battling the government. Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Sharmarke said there up to 400 foreign fighters while Sharif said majority of them are from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iraq. "We still understand that the influx of Al-Qaeda members continues and you can imagine how the situation will be if they take over," said Sharif. A country of around 10 million, Somalia has had no effective central authority since former president Mohamed Siad Barre was ousted in 1991, setting off a bloody cycle of clashes between rival factions. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NGONGE Posted May 27, 2009 Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed Villa Somalia Mogadishu Somalia Dear Mr Ahmed, Further to your recent complaint to the African Union, Arab League and United Nations regarding the latest visit of our bailiffs to your premises, we would like to repeat the demand for payment we sent you during your stay in our Djibouti branch late last year. Mr Ahmed, we have been in business for almost twenty years and have only ever had one previous defaulter. All our guests have always left with good memories and a fully paid account. However, during your stay in our hotel, you accumulated a huge bill and have yet to pay even a shilling in return. We hereby serve you with a FINAL DEMAND to make good all your debts to us and request that you refrain from using your diplomatic position to curry favour with world powers. You have stayed in our Hotel for two full years and were given the freedom to use our honeymoon suite, free international calls, mini bar, dry cleaning services, room service and all the meals that you asked for. However, you left us under the pretence that your visit to our Djibouti branch was going to be a quick business visit and that you shall return as soon as you have concluded this aforementioned business. You did not return, Sir. Therefore, our bailiffs will continue on knocking on your doors until you pay us in full or they confiscate some of your assets. We hope that you will see sense and bring to a close this matter in a manner satisfactory to all parties concerned. Our bank details are enclosed with this letter. We look forward to receiving your payment soon. Yours A. Afkiiki The Asmara Hildon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
General Duke Posted May 27, 2009 ^^^ war of the hotels Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jacaylbaro Posted May 27, 2009 .......... i hope he receives the letter on time .. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
