Yemen refutes supporting the Islamic Courts [Archives:2006/960/Front Page]
SANA'A, July 2 ) Dr. Abu Bakr Al-Qirbi, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, denied last Saturday a statement by a U.S. official that Yemen is one of three regional countries supporting the Islamic Courts movement in Somalia.
“What the US official said is untrue,” Al-Qirbi commented.
“Yemen only supported the Somali police with light arms at an early time following the formation of the Somali legal government under the Nairobi Accord. Since then, Yemen has not extended any financial assistance or arms to the [interim] government or the courts.”
In a statement to Al-Jazeerah, the Al-Qirbi noted: “I hoped that the U.S. official, who said she would discuss the matter with Yemen and Saudi Arabia and other governments in the region, did so before releasing the statement to help us examine the matter.”
According to Al-Qirbi, stability in Somalia cannot be achieved with partiality, whether such partiality favors the interim government or the Courts. Only joint efforts by neighbors can restore stability and help make create a suitable atmosphere for dialogue between the government and the Courts.
Al-Qirbi said that the Al-Ejad Organization agreed with countries neighboring Somalia to send a committee to Mogadishu and then to Bedu to organize a dialogue between the Somali government and the Islamic Courts on how to end the bloodshed.
Dr. Jendayi Frazer, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, accused Yemen, Saudi Arabia, and Eritrea of backing the Islamic Courts in Somalia, which has recently taken over parts of the country.
Frazer confirmed that representatives of the Islamic Courts have no intention to suggest alternatives to the interim federal government in Bedu.
“The need for a dialogue between the legal courts and the transitional federal government is persistent,” Frazer opined.
She confirmed that the U.S. administration is working with international experts to tackle the restive security situation in the war-ravaged country.
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