| "The IGAD calls for the withdrawal
of all foreign forces from Somalia and respect for the
territorial integrity of Somalia and appeals to all countries to
observe the UN arms embargo on Somalia in order to promote
conductive environment for dialogue and reconciliation," IGAD
said in a communique received here Monday.
The call came as the powerful Islamists of Somalia have
reportedly recruited foreign Islamist fighters to participate in
the war against the transitional government and neighboring
Ethiopia which they accuse of backing the interim government.
Addis Ababa has admitted hundreds of its military trainers
are helping the government but denies they are taking part in
any conflict.
Participants at the Dec. 1-2 meeting in Djibouti, where IGAD
is based, reportedly include IGAD Executive Secretary Attalla
Bashir, SCIC foreign affairs chief Dr. Ibrahim Hassan Addou,
Kenya's Ambassador to Somalia Mohammed Affey and Ethiopian
Deputy Foreign Minister Tekeda Alemu.
The SCIC pledged to resume talks with the UN-backed
government in Sudan's capital of Khartoum, but analysts say
hopes of going to Khartoum in mid-December looks slim as
previous rounds of Arab League-mediated peace talks between the
Islamists and the government yielded a truce and a mutual
recognition pact but both have been violated amid heightening
tension.
The meeting of IGAD, which groups Djibouti, Eritrea,
Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia,
Sudan and
Uganda, also came as Speaker of Somalia's parliament Sharif
Hassan Sheikh Aden renewed calls on Sunday for dialogue between
rival groups.
"I am calling on the Islamic court and the government to
refrain from actions that could lead to full-scale conflicts,"
Aden told a news conference in Nairobi.
"Talks can at least defuse tension and, if handled properly,
could lead to a peaceful settlement. It is so easy to start war
but no one knows when it will end. Therefore, I am advising all
Somali entities to look for amicable solutions," he said.
The speaker's plea came as Somalia's internationally
recognized government, formed two years ago, edges closer to
securing regional and international approval for the deployment
of foreign peacekeeping troops in Somalia.
It also welcomed a draft UN. Security Council resolution that
would authorize a regional force to protect the fragile
government.
Somali Information Minister Ali Ahmed Jama Jangali said over
the weekend the
United States-led proposal is a step in the right direction
to stabilize his country. He said he hopes the draft will be
adopted quickly.
The U.S. ambassador to the UN, John Bolton, circulated the
proposal at the Security Council on Friday. He said the
resolution envisions an 8,000-member peacekeeping mission
staffed by IGAD.
However, the powerful Islamist faction that has seized
control of most of the country rejected the proposal Monday. An
Islamist spokesman said the group is opposed to the idea of
foreign troops coming to Somalia.
Somalia has been without a functioning central authority
since the 1991 ousting of strongman Mohamed Siad Barre and the
two-year- old transitional government has been unable to assert
control.
Source: Xinhua |
11:00 GMT
