U.S. leaves open dealing with Somali Islamists

[SOO MAAL]

U.S. leaves open dealing with Somali Islamists

By Sue Pleming

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States may be open to dealing with Islamic militia who took over Somalia's capital this week, possibly signalling a new approach to the lawless Horn of Africa country that Washington worries could become a base for terrorists.

 

U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said on Wednesday the Bush administration would "reserve judgement" about the group loyal to sharia courts which seized Mogadishu from a self-styled coalition of anti-terrorism warlords widely believed to get backing from Washington.

 

"I think that as a matter of principle that we would look forward to working with groups or individuals who have an interest in a better, more peaceful, more stable, secure Somalia ... who are also interested in fighting terrorism," said McCormack when asked if Washington would deal with the Islamic militia.

 

This week Sheikh Sharif Ahmed, chairman of the Islamic Courts Union, wrote to the United States and others to allay concern that Somalia would become a safe haven for terrorists.

 

"We categorically deny and reject any accusation that we are harbouring any terrorists or supporters of terrorism in the areas where the courts operate," said the letter.

 

And in comments to Reuters on Wednesday, he appeared to back away from comments made at a rally in which he vowed to turn Somalia into an Islamic state.

 

"Socialism was tested as a way of ruling the world but failed, democracy has been tested and is failing, the only way now is to try Islam. But it's up to the people to decide," he told Reuters.

 

McCormack said there were a "number of different voices" within the Islamic group that sent the letter and some of them were trying to restore order in Mogadishu and lay the groundwork for institutions in a country that has not had an effective central government since 1991.

 

NEW APPROACH

 

U.S. State Department officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said U.S. policy was still being formulated towards Somalia but there was a move towards dealing with the Islamic militia.

 

Some members of the administration argued that despite concern about the Islamists developing a Taliban-style rule in Somalia, it would be short-sighted to cut off all contact with them as they could bring some form of stability.

 

The United States has long regarded Somalia as a haven for terrorists seeking to use the Horn of Africa country as a springboard for attacks on America and its allies.

 

President George W. Bush reiterated that on Tuesday, saying the administration was concerned Somalia should not become "an al Qaeda safe haven."

 

The State Department's annual terrorism report released in April said a small number of al Qaeda terrorists responsible for the 1998 bombings of the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania operated in Somalia and were helped by "elements within the complicated Somali clan structure."

 

A new approach to dealing with Somalia also followed a meeting this week between Bush and African Union chief Denis Sassou Nguesso during which the Congolese leader urged Washington to play a more active role there and not to support one group of warlords over another.

 

Washington, which has shied away from direct involvement in Somalia since the 1994 exit of U.S. and U.N. troops, has refused to discuss reports it is funneling $100,000 (54,000 pounds) a month to warlords, but says it will support anyone fighting terrorism.

 

But there have been conflicting views within the U.S. government over which groups should be co-opted in fighting terrorism and whether support for warlords was the right route in the first place.

 

Somalia expert John Prendergast said it was important the United States speak to all the actors in Somalia, whether they were Islamists or otherwise.

 

He criticized the United States for what he said was 15 years of failed policies in Somalia and for its funding to a warlord group which had little legitimacy.

 

"The absence of the United States in the peace process has been felt widely and contributed directly to the lack of traction that this interim administration has been able to achieve," said Prendergast of the International Crisis Group.

 

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