Somalia's Hizbul Islam leader Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys said on Friday that any increase in troops serving the African Union peacekeeping mission in Somalia will result to more suffering of Somali people.

“Amisom is inflicting suffering to Mogadishu residents, increasing their size will mean increase in the suffering,” he told VOA Somali Service, urging AU to rescind its decision to deploy more troops in Mogadishu.

He vowed to continue with the war against fragile transition government and African Union forces in the capital Mogadishu, downplaying any agreement with the government.

“There is no agreement we will sign with the TFG so long as it keeps Amisom in the country. I am advising the world to get its hands off Somali affairs,” said the 65-year-old cleric.

Last week, African leaders at a summit in Kampala Uganda, pledged some 4,000 more troops to join the 6,000 Ugandan and Burundian soldiers serving African Union peacekeeping mission in Somalia.

Meanwhile, Aweys confirmed the ongoing talks between his group and Al-Shabaaab, saying they are meant to consolidate their forces in the fight against the western-backed government.

“There are ongoing talks between Al-Shabaab and Hizbul Islam, which are meant to unite our forces. The talks have not stalled,” he said in reply to latest reports that indicated that the talks have collapsed.

Separately, Uganda's defense and army spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Felix Kuliagye says materials and equipments seized from bases of the Allied Democratic Forces in the Eastern DR Congo indicate that the rebel group has an expanding operational links with the Al-Shabaab.

“The al Shabaab and the ADF are both being trained by al Qaeda, ADF worked closely with the al Shabaab militants to execute the July 11 attacks in Kampala,” he said.

The attacks, which claimed more than 76 lives, were later claimed by Al-Shabaab.

GAROWE ONLINE