As Big Blow

By Staff Reporter, *Somali president hails agreement with Islamist group* - Xinhua -People's Republic of China

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Somali President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed on Tuesday hailed the power sharing agreement his government signed with moderate Sufi group following African Union sponsored talks in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa Monday.

Somali government signed a deal with the moderate Sufi group of Ahlu Sunnah Waljama.

The agreement stipulates that the two sides join forces and share power so that they can jointly fight with the radical Islamist group of Al Shabaab.

"We definitely welcome that agreement because this government is a government for national reconciliation. We hope this will get us closer to peace in our country," Somali president told reporters in Mogadishu.

The agreement comes as the Somali government is expected to launch a major onslaught against Islamist rebels controlling parts of the capital and much of south and centre of the war wrecked east African country.

Ahlu Sunnah movement took up arms against Islamist fighters from Al Shabaab after they started destroying tombs of revered Sufi clerics and banned several of the practices of Sufi Islam in 2008. The group controls several major towns in central Somalia and commands substantial number of militia force who are due to be part of the Somali government military.

The agreement between the two sides is seen as big blow against armed opposition group against Somali government because the deal marks as an alliance against rebel Islamist groups who are poised to overthrow the internationally recognized government of Somalia.

[Picture: Somalia, orthographic projection. Photo: The Emirr/Wiki]