MOGADISHU, Somalia Oct 12 (Garowe Online) - Political infighting within the Islamic Courts movement deepened on Sunday when the Eritrea-based faction announced the election of a new chairman, Radio Garowe reported.

An Islamic Courts delegation from Eritrea now visiting the Somali capital Mogadishu told a press conference that the group elected Sheikh Omar Iman as the new chairman, replacing Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed at the top.

The visiting delegation's spokesman, Ismail Haji Addow, told reporters that the new executive council chairman will hold office "until the next gathering."

Sheikh Omar Iman, the chairman-elect, lives in Eritrea and was deputy of the Islamic Courts' legislative council (Shura) since 2006.

Mr. Haji Addow had strong words for Djiboutian President Ismail Omar Ghelle, saying that Ghelle's recent comments were "unexpected" from a Djiboutian leader. [ Full story]

He accused UN Special Envoy to Somalia, Mr. Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, of being an "American agent" who is working to divide up the anti-Ethiopia insurgency.

The Special Envoy was instrumental in facilitating the Somali peace talks in Djibouti, which led to the signing of a peace agreement last June between Sharif Sharif and interim Prime Minister Nur "Adde" Hassan Hussein.

Challenge

Some Islamic Courts commanders have publicly come out and rejected Sheikh Omar Iman's ascension to the group's top.

A group of Islamist officials on the ground, including the official spokesman Abdirahim Isse Addow, argued that a Shura Council meeting must be held to vote out the executive chairman.

Sheikh Mohamud Jim'ale was quoted by local media in Mogadishu, saying: "The Asmara [Eritrea] meeting was attended by only three members of the Shura Council and the remaining 88 members were not present."

Another senior official, Sheikh Abdulkadir Ali Omar, told reporters that "fighters on the ground are neutral" about the growing political dispute among Islamic Courts leaders.

Both Islamic Courts officers extended support to Sheikh Sharif's leadership "until a Shura Council conference is held" to elect a new chairman.

Since June, the Islamic Courts fractured into two major camps based in Djibouti and Eritrea, led by Sheikh Sharif and Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys, respectively.

Islamist rebels are leading an anti-Ethiopia insurgency in parts of Somalia, which has killed at least 9,500 people so far and contributed negatively to the humanitarian crisis in the country.

Source: Garowe Online