Somalia
Divided over Djibouti Agreement, Islamists fight
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Aug 31, 2008 - 5:50:22 PM

JOWHAR, Somalia Aug 31 (Garowe Online) - The Islamic Courts militia that has been in control of Middle Shabelle region in recent months fought among themselves on Sunday, wounding at least two fighters.

The fighting erupted in the regional capital Jowhar, 90km north of Mogadishu, after gunmen loyal to the Islamist governor of Middle Shabelle, Sheikh Dahir Addow Alasow, battled with bodyguards loyal to Islamist official Abdullahi Moallim Muktar.

Local sources told Radio Garowe that Gov. Sheikh Dahir opposed reports that a joint security force comprising of Somali government troops and Islamic Courts fighters would arrive in Jowhar "in the coming days."

Businesses were shut down in Jowhar and the movement of traffic restricted, due to the street fighting. Both wounded fighters were being treated at a local hospital.

The Djibouti Agreement, reached between the government and Islamist-dominated opposition group ARS, called for the establishment of a joint security force to replace Ethiopian troops, who are expected to withdraw from Somalia within 120 days of signing the Agreement.

But the Agreement divided the ARS into two camps, with a moderate, pro-Agreement group led by Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed based in Djibouti, and an Eritrea-based group led by hardliner Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys.

This is the first time Islamist guerrillas fought among each other ever since the Islamic Courts rose to power in mid-2006, underscoring deep divisions regarding the peace deal with the government.

Source: Garowe Online