Somalis Protest AU InvasionSomali Islamic groups protest planned AU deployment
08 Jan 2005 11:41:05 GMT
Source: Reuters
MOGADISHU, Jan 8 (Reuters) - Chanting anti-Christian slogans, Islamic clerics led protests in the Somali capital Mogadishu against the proposed deployment of African Union (AU) soldiers to the lawless country.
Friday's protests came two days after the AU agreed in principle to provide troops to ensure the safe return of Somalia's fledgling government, currently based in the relative security of neighbouring Kenya.
"We are ready to defend our territory from those who are trying to colonise it again," said Sharif Sheik Ahmed, the chairman of an umbrella group of Islamic courts.
"We have prepared the forces defending this country from those Christians who are trying to come in the name of African forces. We say to the African Union this country is ours and we do not want their forces here," he told scores of supporters.
Somalia's new President Abdullahi Yusuf had appealed to the 53-member AU to provide 15,000 to 20,000 peacekeepers to disarm the militias that have controlled the country since the overthrow of military dictator Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991.
However, the AU's Peace and Security Council has not yet given any details on the force's size, rule of engagements or date of deployment, saying those decisions would be made later.
The United Nations has been hesitant to commit, given that its last peacekeeping mission ended in a humiliating and bloody withdrawal in 1995.
Yusuf pledged on Friday that his government would return very soon to rebuild Somalia, although he gave no specific timeframe.
Diplomats say Yusuf can only establish legitimacy by returning home quickly and reining in the warring militias.