Somalia:Islamist official says his group has no policy to fight government

Mogadishu 1March 2009 Waagacusub Media

The chairman of Islamic party, Dr Omar Liman, alias Abu Bakr, has said their party does not intend to engage in any fighting at this time. The chairman of Islamic party has said this at a time when their forces were recently engaged in fighting with government forces.

The Chairman of Islamic party, Dr Omar Liman speaking to Waagacusub today spoke on recent fighting [between his group and government forces] in Mogadishu. The chairman said his party has not made any decision to engage in any fighting at this time and that they are now putting their focus on uniting all groups in the party and the establishment of a common and solid political stand.

Speaking on recent fighting in Mogadishu, the chairman of Islamic party said the fighting was a normal occurrence between two forces that are opposed to each other but that his group does not have an official policy in which they intend to get involved in any fighting at this time.

The party's plan is not to carry out any attacks at this time as we are engaged at its formation, said Dr Liman.

The chairman for Islamic party, Dr Omar Liman has accused African Union Mission in Somalia [AMISOM] troops of subjecting problems to the Somali civilians and warned that all will unite in order to rid them of the country. The chairman of Islamic party was asked about his group's stand on recent decisions by Somali religious leaders asking armed opposition groups and the government not to engage in any fighting. He said their group would respect the decisions made by the religious leaders and that they have held talks with them and are still debating on the decision they are to take on the issue. He said the reason behind the formation of their group was to safeguard the administration of Islamic Shari'ah and is not to harm the civilian population. He added that his group would not permit and consent to operations that will hurt the civilian population.

The chairman of Islamic party was also asked about a recent statement by Sheikh Indha'ade in which he said he has resigned from his position in the party as the commander of forces. He said Islamic party is a new party and that other than the four senior leaders, no-one else has been appointed to any other position. He said officials of the party have resigned from their positions and Indha'ade is among those officials who remain resigned. He also said the four groups that are united under Islamic party had an agreement to abandon their names and various positions they were holding and unite under this single party.

This is the first time the leader of Islamic party, Dr Omar Liman alias Abu Bakr has spoken out on issues in Somalia particularly the fighting that took place in Mogadishu. Forces loyal to his party and government forces backed by AMISOM troops were involved in the fighting which broke out in Mogadishu in the last few days resulting in the death of almost a hundred civilians whereas many more were wounded.

Sunni Said Saleh

sirsunni@gmail.com

english@waagacusub.com

Waagacusub Media

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