MOGADISHU, Somalia Oct 7 (Garowe Online) - A conference attended by more than 100 community leaders in the Somali capital ended with a public appeal for al Shabaab insurgents to stop attacking Mogadishu's Aden Adde International Airport, Radio Garowe reported Tuesday.

Traditional elders, religious clerics, civic and business leaders participated at the community conference in Mogadishu, which was preceded by an all-business meeting dealing with the airport attacks.

Ali Abdulle Qaylshe, a clan elder who read aloud the public statement to the media, said it is "unacceptable" for the airport to be closed at this time.

"We specifically appeal to the al Shabaab religious youth to repeal their decision to shut down Mogadishu's airport, especially since foreign troops still use it," the elder read.

He indicated that the attacks on the airport and the airline companies' subsequent decision not to land due to safety concerns has "impacted civilians and contributed to more deaths, injuries and the destruction of property."

"It is unacceptable that Mogadishu's airport is closed while airports in Kismayo, Garowe, Wajid and other places are open," Mr. Qaylshe added.

Somalia's interim government says that Aden Adde International Airport is safe for civilian airplanes to land, but airline companies have refused to land since September 16, when al Shabaab rebels issued the threat to shoot down planes.

More than 60 civilians have been killed in airport-related violence since. Al Shabaab insurgents argue that the airport serves the military interests of Ethiopia and African Union peacekeepers.

AU military planes have landed and taken off safely at the airport with regularity, although al Shabaab insurgents routinely target the airport with mortars whenever an airplane arrives.

Source: Garowe Online