Former Somalia President Warns against Attacks on AU Peacekeepers

Hiiraan Online

Monday, January 19, 2009

Mogadishu, Somalia (HOL) - Former President of Somalia Mr. Abdikasim Salaad Hasan has warned against attacks on African Union (AU) forces in Somalia.

Mr. Hasan was the President of the former Transitional National Government (TNG) which was established in Djibouti but failed to impose its control on the various warring factions led by warlords. Mr. Hasan said that AU peacekeeping forces did not come to Somalia by force but with the permission of the AU supported by the UN.

“These troops do not pose danger to Somalis; therefore, I call on Somalis not to attack them. If we want them to leave Somalia, it is the responsibility of the central government soon to be elected to ask them to leave” said Mr. Hasan who added these troops will return to their countries if asked to do bySomalia’s central government.

The former President said that Ethiopian forces who recently withdraw fromMogadishu and Afgoi were mistreating Somalis, particularly those who live inMogadishu.

The former President also called on clan elders, business community, politicians and religious leaders to work together to help people who have been displaced from their homes in Mogadishu to return to their homes.

Ethiopian troops in Mogadishu invaded the former President’s house inMogadishu on several occasions and treated him with disrespect instead of treating him as a former President of Somalia.