03/09/08 (B463) Shabelle / Le principal groupe somalien d’opposition, co-signataire des récents accords de Djibouti, l’ARS contedit le Président du GNT, lorsqu’il affirme être en mesure de reprendre le port de Kismayo aux islamistes. ARS says TFG incapable to seize Kismayo (En Anglais – Info lectrice)

The major Somalia’s opposition group, the alliance for the reliberation of Somalia the faction based Asmara has disagreed with Somali president’s remarks on the recapture of Kismayo town from the islamists.

One of the group’s officials Abduqadir Dhaqane has stated that president Yusuf’s comments on the capture of Kismayo town from the islamist groups those have driven out pro-government’s militias.

“Let alone them to seize Kismayo they cannot defend their feeble positions” Dhaqane said.

Speaking to Shabelle radio from Somalia’s lower Jubba region he added that the islamist fighters have forced out Barre Hirale (Somali MP) and his militiamen.

He further said that the transitional government doesn’t also in charge of Baidoa town the seat of Somali parliament and the only street the Government officials pass of Maka Almukarramah.

Asked about the government’s threats on the recapture of Kismayo he said that was “past phony remarks”

ARS’s comments come following Somalia’s transitional government Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed has announced that there are elements violated the agreement of Djibouti that jointly signed by his Gov and the alliance for the reliberaion of Somalia, the major opposition group.

“There are groups those geared up for fight, disgusted peace, they rejected the last inclusive agreement of Djibouti” Yusuf said in a news conference he held in Mogadishu.

He added that Kismayo town has been seized by the islamists saying that no group can have authority to capture city except “the government”

“We will not persist to endure the control of Kismayo by the rebels, we will recapture it in any case we are capable of” the president said.

Elsewhere the reconciliation minister of the transitional government Abdirisaq Ashkir on his side said that the islamists have invaded Kismayo by mistake.

“The government will seize Kismayo also will set up hard-hitting administration there as soon as possible” Ashkir said in a news conference in Mogadishu.

He added that Kismayo town’s attack by the islamists would chip away at the agreement signed in Djibouti.

He elsewhere asked the ARS’s opposition group based in Djibouti to reach the aid organization’s food aids to the in need population in the country.

Kismayo, 500 kilometres (300 miles) south of the capital Mogadishu.

Interim Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf has long maintained that Kismayo is not in the hands of the Ethiopian-backed transitional government.

There are no Ethiopian forces present in Kismayo and the Jubba regions as a whole, although clan militias there claim they are part of the government.

Somalia has been at war since 1991, when clan-based militias ousted Siad Barre, a socialist dictator, and then fought for power among themselves.

The conflict is complicated by clan loyalties and the involvement of archenemies Eritrea and Ethiopia, who both back opposite sides in the fighting.