Written by The Media Line Staff
Published Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Published Tuesday, October 17, 2006
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Internal disputes within the Somali interim administration are raising fears that the Supreme Council of the Islamic Courts (SCIC) will attempt a military coup, the London-based daily A-Sharq Al-Awsat reports. Close associates of the interim parliament speaker, Sharif Hasan Sheikh Adam, said Adam would not be heading the governmental delegation to the third round of talks with the SCIC, following a dispute with Prime Minister 'Ali Muhammad Gedi.
Adam's refusal to head the negotiations delegation reflects a rift within the interim administration with regard to its conduct versus the SCIC, a Somali minister told A-Sharq Al-Awsat.
The SCIC is in control of most of southern Somalia, including the capital, Mogadishu. The interim government was forced to make its base in Baidoa last June.
Meanwhile, high tension was felt on Monday in Baidoa following the return of Police Chief 'Ali Muhammad Loyan to the city. Loyan has been accused of being responsible for the killing of five members of Baidoa's local armed group on September 4. The group's leader, Adam Muhammad Nor, threatened he would kill Loyan if the latter did not leave Baidoa within 24 hours.
Source: The Media Line, Oct. 17, 2006