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SOMALI GOVERNMENT DISTANCES ITSELF FROM BAIDOA FIGHTING May 31, 2005

SOMALI GOVERNMENT DISTANCES ITSELF FROM BAIDOA FIGHTING

NAIROBI, May 31 -- The interim Somali government distanced itself from fighting that engulfed Baidoa on Sunday night extending to Monday morning. The fighting pitied forces loyal to two Ministers supporting President Abdullahi Yussuf and an MP controlling the town.

Somali Presidential Spokesman, Yussuf Baribari said in a press conference today, that the interim government was not party to the fighting in Baidoa - which according to him was caused by misunderstanding and provocations from both parties. He gave the death toll as 13 and 29 others injured, including innocent people.

“The Transitional Federal Government did not take part in the fighting. The President and the entire Somali government sends its sincere condolences to the bereaved families and friends, the President wishes to appeal to the parties to refrain from further confrontation” Baribari said.

Asked whether the fighting would disrupt the government’s intention to relocate to Baidoa, Yussuf Baribari said, “ The government will not change its decision to relocate to Baidoa and Jowhar. The process is ongoing and already 50 delegates have been flown to Jowhar.”

Yussuf Baribari dismissed claims that Ethiopian forces took part in the fighting. “These are allegations, there is no movement of forces from our neighbours noticed in Somalia. Our neighbouring countries helped us form the government and want peace in Somalia”

Regarding the actual destination where the President intends to move to, Yussuf Baribari said without elaborating. “It’s the desire of the President and the entire Somali people that the President should go to go Mogadishu, I wish to tell you that the President’s final destination will be Mogadishu”

Forces loyal to Minister of Justice, Sheikh Adan Madobe and his Agriculture counterpart Hassan Mohamed Nur “Shatigadud”, had on Sunday night attacked Baidoa in a bid to take over the town form lawmaker Mohamed Ibrahim Habsade, who has been controlling the town since he drove them off early this year.

The Somali government – formed last year at peace talks in Kenya, is faced by a dilemma over where to relocate. President Abdullahi Yussuf and his supporters want to temporarily set base in Jowhar and Baidoa, until when security in the capital permits, but renegade Ministers led by Speaker of parliament, Sharif Hassan Sheikh Adan say the government must go to Mogadishu as stipulated in their charter.

Somalia has been in turmoil since former dictator Mohamed Siad Bare was toppled in 1991. Clan fighting and famine have killed hundreds of thousands ever since.

By Guled Mohamed

guledke@yahoo.com

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