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Leaders
of one of Somalia's main clans were divided Friday over whether
to support a bid by President Ismail Omar Guelleh of Djibouti
to restore civil authority in the anarchic Horn of Africa
country.
Hawiye
clan elders and politicians, including north Mogadishu warlord
Ali Mahdi Mohamed, an influencial Hawiye leader, met here
on Thursday and resolved to support Guelleh's peace initiative.
"The meeting
of Hawiye subclans fully accepted the proposals of Djibouti
governmernt to host the Somali conference which will come
up with a transitional government for Somalia," Ali Mahdi
told AFP.
"Time
to wait for individuals is over as most Somalis appreciate
Guelleh's effort to end anarchy and civil strife in Somalia,"
he added.
But the
meeting was boycotted by other key Hawiye faction leaders,
including Hussein Mohamed Aidid, the south Mogadishu strongman,
Osman Hassan Ali "Atto", Mohamed Qanyare Afrah and Musa Sudi
Yalahow, all warlords controlling different parts of Mogadishu.
Respected
Hawiye clan elder Ali Ugas Abdulle also failed to attend the
meeting, which took place in Ramadan Hotel at the "greenline"
dividing north and south Mogadishu.
The meeting
was opened by Imam Mohamud Immam Omar, the Abgal subclan traditional
ruler.
Those
attending urged Somali other leaders to take part in a peace
conference in Djibouti on Tuesday.
The peace
conference which was to convene in Djibouti last week to discuss
Guelleh's plan was postponed to next Tuesday, apparently because
of insufficiently representative attendance.
The peace
plan has widespread support in the international community,
but among the warlords only Ali Mahdi has so far agreed to
take part.
Guelleh's
plan is aimed at setting up a Somali government and parliament
in the country, which as been without central authority since
1991 when president Mohamed Siad Barre was toppled.
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