Terror suspects 'in leadership positions in Somali capital'
Members of a group listed by the US as a terrorist band are running the capital of Somalia, days after Islamic fighters wrested control of the city from warlords, Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Meles Zenawi said today.
“The renowned extremist and terrorist organisation, Al-Ittihad, is at the helm of the current leadership in Mogadishu,” Meles said during an annual review of key factors affecting Ethiopia.
“We do not believe that all the forces that have taken control of Mogadishu and its surroundings are extremists.”
Al-Ittihad is listed by the United States as a terrorist group linked to Al-Qaida.
United Nations officials say the group operates openly as a religious organisation and is a powerful economic force in southern Somalia, where it captured key towns from warlords in June.
UN experts monitoring an arms embargo on lawless Somalia described Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys – head of the powerful consultative council of the group that controls Mogadishu – as the Al-Ittihad leader responsible for overseeing military training.
