Al-Sharq al-Awsat report by Khalid Mahmud

Shaykh Hasan Dahir Uweys, leader of Somalia’s Islamic Courts, has told Al-Sharq al-Awsat that the Courts’ elements who are in Mogadishu “will not let the African peacekeeping forces remain in Somali territories” but he expressed his willingness to deal with the Transitional Authority President Abdullahi Yusuf “if he agrees to eject the Ethiopian and African forces he had brought to Somalia.”  Speaking from his secret hideout on the Somali-Kenyan borders, he added:  “If there is good reconciliation chosen by the Somalis, then I am from them and I never reject reconciliation.”

Shaykh Uweys accused the Somali and Ethiopian forces of committing war crimes against Somali civilians and said Islamic Courts’ elements are at present in the capital Mogadishu to lead the people’s resistance against the Ethiopian and African peacekeeping forces and will not allow them to remain in Somali territories.

Shaykh Uweys’s name appeared on the list of those wanted by American justice on charge of involvement in a series of terrorist operations against American and Ethiopian targets in Addis Ababa in the early 1990’s.  His name is also included in similar UN lists.  But Uweys denied these accusations in his statements to “Al-Sharq al-Awsat” and challenged those propagating them to provide concrete evidence of his involvement in alleged terrorist actions.

Asked the reason for his criticism of the recent visit to Somalia by Jendavi Frazer, the assistant US secretary of state for African affairs, Eweys said her visit “is an evil omen.  We do not expect anything positive from the US administration because it is responsible for a large part of what is happening in Somalia” and accused the United States of financing the warlords and encouraging Ethiopia to invade Somalia.

In reply to a question about his view of the current security situation in the Somali capital, the Islamic Courts leader underlined “our right to defend our country with any means” adding that he does not see any difference between the “Ethiopian forces and the so-called peacekeeping ones.  Both of them back the authority led by Abdullahi Yusuf (Somalia’s transitional president) and what is happening now is nothing compared to what we are preparing for them.  We will not allow them to have a peaceful life on our territories after carrying out and continuing to carry out genocide against the civilians.  They butchered the helpless innocent.”

Uweys went on to say that the Islamic Courts’ regaining control of the capital “is not just our aspiration.  We want to expel the occupation and prevent the agent government from continuing to waste the Somali people’s dignity and honor.  It is true that I consider Abdullahi Yusuf the representative of Ethiopia and the United States but I am willing to deal with him if he agrees to eject the Ethiopian and African forces he had brought to Somalia.  If there is good reconciliation chosen by the Somalis, then I am from them and I never reject reconciliation.”

Asked whether his call on Arab and Muslim fighters to come to Somalia to support his movement was true, he said:  “We do not need anyone.  We rely on our strength and can manage our affairs.”