'There is no al-Qaeda here'
2006-06-17 21:44
Jowhar - The leader of Somalia's newly dominant Islamists has denied links to al-Qaeda and warned the interim government not to put any conditions on proposed peace talks in Yemen.
Islamic Courts Union head Sheikh Sharif Ahmed gave his first news conference to foreign journalists on Saturday, days after the fall of Jowhar, where his militias routed warlords from their last stronghold.
The Islamists marched into Jowhar, 90km north of Mogadishu, after seizing the capital last week.
After word spread that the United States had backed the warlords - who had styled themselves as a counterterrorism force - many Muslims in the country viewed it as a battle for their religion against the US "war on terror".
"We are not terrorists. There are no foreigners. There are no al-Qaeda in Somalia. We have no relation with them," said Ahmed.
p>He said such allegations were misconceptions, spread by the warlords to gain allies in Washington.
'Bush, don't make another mistake'
"I will repeat and repeat, there are no al-Qaeda in Somalia," he said.
Diplomats and security experts however, say there are a handful of al-Qaeda operatives in the country, as well as training camps.
Asked what he would tell US President George W. Bush, Ahmed said: "Do not make again another mistake against these poor suffering people."
Ahmed accused Ethiopia, the US and other governments of working against the interests of Somalia, mired in anarchy since the 1991 ousting of Mohamed Siad Barre.
"There are so many governments that will spend large amounts of money to destroy our people," he said.
Ahmed spoke to journalists in a compound surrounded by dozens of "technicals" - pickups mounted with anti-aircraft guns and heavy machine guns - and gunmen with assault rifles milled about.
Yusuf sets conditions to talks
The Islamist militias have swiftly taken over a wide swathe of Somalia, from the coastal capital to the Ethiopian border.
In doing so, it has encroached on the interim government's temporary base in Baidoa, rising fears it may want to take over.
These fears sparked reports that 300 Ethiopian soldiers had crossed into south western Somalia on Saturday.
Ethiopia, which has close ties with interim President Abdullahi Yusuf, denied entering Somalia.
The courts say they want to bring peace and security to Somalia and are willing to negotiate with the government - but only if the government demands no pre-conditions.
Yusuf has agreed to the talks, to be hosted by Yemen, on condition the courts recognise his government's authority.