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Somalia: Somali Prime Minister willing to sacrifice post for peace
Thu. July 17, 2008 08:28 am.- By Bonny Apunyu. -
(SomaliNet) In an effort to help restore peace and stability in Somalia, Somali Prime Minister Nur Hassan Hussein says he is willing to sacrifice his position.
Hussein, speaking at a news conference in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi said he was ready to step down if the Somali people deemed it necessary, urging the rebels to respect a peace accord they have signed with the government.
The Somali premier called on al-Shabaab fighters as part of the Somali nation to join peace talks and present their demands to the government.
"I do not want to be like a military ruler or dictator… I need them to tell me whatever they want," he said.
Last month, the government and top leaders from the main opposition movement in Djibouti set a July 9 deadline for the implementation of a truce, giving all factions a month to start enforcing a ceasefire.
However, it was quickly rejected by some of the armed rebels including the Islamic Courts Union (ICU) forces, who insist that the government's Ethiopian military allies should withdraw before any talks can start.
On Wednesday, Somali government soldiers trudged all the way to Baidoa after being heavily attacked by al-Shabaab rebels.
A large number of Somali soldiers reached the south-central city of Baidoa a day after they lost 135 of their comrades in clashes with the insurgents, a Press TV correspondent in Somalia reported.
Meanwhile, Ahmedou Ould Abdallah, the UN Special Representative for Somalia condemned the killing of aid workers by anti-government forces, insisting those involved in the attacks should be brought to justice.
On Tuesday, gunmen killed a transport agent working for the World Food Program, the agency reported -the fifth WFP-contracted worker to be killed this year in Somalia.-Press TV
News Category: Somalia
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