Faction leader expresses support for government

One of the Mogadishu main faction leaders, Husayn Haji Bod, on Monday night signed an agreement with Interim President Abdiqassim Salad Hassan. Sources in the president’s office told IRIN that Bod had pledged support for the government. The president had asked Bod to spearhead the efforts to bring in the faction leaders who were still opposed to the new government, the source added.

In a telephone interview with IRIN on Wednesday, Bod told IRIN that he had not accepted any post in government and did not expect to be offered one. Asked why he had now decided to support the government, Bod said: “I did it because of the condition of the Somali people and for the good of all Somalis.” Asked if he believed that the other faction leaders might also extend their support to the government, he replied: “I hope so.” Bod added: “I went to the president with dynamic feelings of peace and real commitment. I would like for us to broaden it and bring about an overall reconciliation for all Somalis.”. He said Mogadishu was now a very happy place and that people had welcomed his move. “This confirmed to me that people want peace, and we should not be seen as being against peace,” he said. Bod said it would take real courage and a spirit of compromise on the part of all sides to arrive at a full reconciliation.

Meanwhile, government forces have driven through Mogadishu in a show of force. A business source told IRIN that the forces, travelling in 50 ‘technicals’ (pick-ups mounted with heavy weapons) moved out of south Mogadishu and drove to north Mogadishu, traversing areas reportedly controlled by some of the faction leaders. They were not challenged and there were no incidents, according to the source.