Tuesday 22 December 2009

Somalia's president defends his trips abroad

21 Dec 21, 2009 - 12:12:52 PM

Somalia’s embattled president Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed has defended his frequently travel abroad, saying its part of his job to strengthen the relationship with the other countries.

Some members of parliament serving the bloated house accused the president of wasting a lot of time abroad than serving his people in the war-torn country.

“Its true that I travel a lot since the formation of the government but am telling you that the trips were part of efforts to re-establish the relation between Somalia and the world,” Ahmed said while addressing the lawmakers in the re-opening of the Somali parliament.

“The country needs to re-establish the relation with the world after 18 years of civil strife. This is what makes us travel to foreign countries, but some spoilers among the parliamentarians are against that,” he added.

Ahmed called on parliament to hold his government accountable and lawmakers to be productive, saying that it’s only legislature, which can expose the grimy individuals in the government.

“A good person who does his work perfectly is rewarded. The government does not have any capital, we only received $3 million from the huge sum of money promised by the world. The lawmakers have to cope with the situation until we get the capital,” he said.

Speaking about the powerful insurgents, Ahmed accused the anti-government forces of instigating anti-peace campaign across the war-torn country, calling on the semi-autonomous states of Puntland and the breakaway republic of Somaliland to join the war against the common enemy the Al-Qaeda terrorist network and its local supporters.

“There are enemies in the country who want destroy it, they will not spare any place. Am advising Puntland and Somaliland to join us in crushing them,” he stated.

Somali militant groups, mainly consisting of Al-Shabaab and Hizbul Islam are waging daily war against Ahmed's fragile UN-backed government.

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