Somalia's Islamic leaders to rename Somalia Arab Republic.
MOGADISHU, Somalia Islamic leaders on Monday announced they would remane the lawless state, the "Islamic Arab Republic of somalia".
" Somalia is is an islamic country, it is part of the Arab League.We also have great historic links with our Arab brethren.Therefore we propose that somalia should be renamed "The islamic arab republic of somalia"Sheikh Muhamad Sharmarke Hassan , chairman for cultural development said.
The edict was the latest step to impose strict religious rule as this chaotic nation emerges from more than a decade of anarchy.Many Somalis argued that the wahabi dominated I.C.U, does not respect somali cultural practices.Mohamed Yusuf, a 25-year-old Somali, said "these people do not care about somalia they want to turn us into arabs"He went on to say, "I think this move will make them lose a lot of supporters, we Somalis are not Arabs".The Islamists where previously accused of burning the somalia flag during their takeover of Kismayo.
The islamists are on the verge of the all out war with the weak ethiopian backed interim govenrment.Parliament speaker Shariff Hassan visitied Muqdisho in a last ditch attempt to divert war.However analysts say that war is inevitable with the Islamists being backed by traditionally anti Ethiopian Arab countries.The United States has also accused the Islamist movement of harbouring well known terrorists accused of soliciting in the 1998 Nairobi Bombings.
Shaun Derry
Global Reporters News Agency
