Mogadishu Radio HornAfrik (in Somali)

[Presenter] Shaykh Mahmud Shaykh Ibrahim Suley, who contacted Radio HornAfrik today, disclosed eight articles which, he said, formed the basis of the position of Islamic Courts forces in Somalia. Muhammad Ise Diriye:

[Diriye] Shaykh Mahmud Shaykh Ibrahim Suley, the spokesman for the Union of Islamic Courts, held a press conference on telephone and spoke of the political situation the country is going through and particularly the rift that has appeared between members of the Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia and on reconciliation efforts:

[Suley] When the leadership inside the country noted the unnecessary rift that has developed between members of the alliance and the irresponsible use of the media which created confusion among the populace, the leadership of the jihad and the resistance inside the country stated is position as follows:

• a) Position of Islam regarding disagreement and separation.
• b) Difficulties caused by insecurity.
• c) Situation of the country under colonialism.
• d) Disappointment of Somalis at home and abroad caused by rift between alliance members.

[Diriye] Shaykh Mahmud said the fight against Ethiopian troops and the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia would continue. He welcomed the talks with the UN regarding the removal of Ethiopian troops from the country but criticized the plan to deploy UN troops in Somalia. Here again is Shaykh Mahmud:

[Suley] We are stating the following to the Somali people.

1. That the leadership of the resistance inside the country is maintaining its unity and is urging the leaders who have disagreed to resolve their differences and safeguard unity.
2. That the leaders should stop making conflicting statements through the media.
3. That the differences will not affect the jihad and struggle being waged inside the country which has weakened Ethiopia and its puppets.
4. That a committee of religious scholars be appointed to resolve the rift using Islamic Shari’ah that will state what is right and what is wrong.
5. That there are negotiations with the UN on the removal of Ethiopian troops from the country.
6. That Ethiopian troops and the warmongers claiming to be government who have massacred and displaced the Somali people should be brought before international court.
7. That the solution to Somalia’s problem is not the deployment of foreign troops because this was tried before and they are in the country now but they have brought nothing except trouble.
8. That we welcome sincere reconciliation effort that will bring the various sections of the community together and that is free of foreign interference.