Somalia's Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Sharmarke has welcomed a move by the government to reach agreement with pro-government Islamist Ahlu Sunnah.

Speaking in the restive capital Mogadishu on Thursday, Prime Minister Sharmarke said his government would welcome any party interested in peace and stability of the war-torn country.

“The government welcomes anyone who wants peace and they will be rewarded with top positions. Beside that, we will fight those who are against peace,” he said.

Somalia’s government spokesman AbdulQadir Walayo, who spoke with the reporters in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa, where the meeting has been going on, said the government would provide details of the meeting once its delegation returns to Mogadishu.

The agreement is yet to be signed; however, sources within the parties involved said the deal would be inked once both parties return to their respective organs in the war-torn country.

Ahlu Sunnah is said to be settling on five cabinet slots in the bloated government after backing down from its early demands of premiership position.

Prime Minister Sharmake hails from the Puntland region of NE Somalia, a traditional ally of the TFG in Mogadishu while Ahlusunna militias control several districts in central Somalia.

The two weeks-long meeting was organized by Ethiopian government under the backing of African Union and some of the neighboring countries.

GAROWE ONLINE