The leader of a radical Islamic movement
that ruled much of southern Somalia before
being driven out in December said "there is
no Al-Qaeda in Somalia," disputing
allegations that the group has links to the
terrorist organisation.
Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed, chairman of the
Council of Islamic Courts, has rarely spoken
in public since his forces were ousted
during a swift operation led by troops from
neighbouring Ethiopia.
The United States and other Western
powers have long accused the group of having
links to terrorism.
"Let me tell you there is no Al-Qaeda in
Somalia," Ahmed told Al-Jazeera
television in an interview broadcast on
Monday.
He said his movement "doesn't have any
relationship with Al-Qaeda. It was chosen by
the Somali people to serve clear objectives
and aims and they were achieved."
The interview was conducted in the last
week in the gulf state of Qatar.
The Islamic group's strict interpretation
of Islam drew comparisons to the former
Taliban regime in Afghanistan, with its
leaders terrifying residents into submission
with the threat of public executions and
floggings.
But many Somalis credited the council
with bringing a semblance of order to the
country.
Since the Islamic movement was ousted by
Somali government troops and their Ethiopian
backers, Somalia has endured some of the
heaviest fighting in more than a decade,
with attacks blamed on insurgents linked to
the Islamic group.
Four days of bloodshed that started in
late March killed hundreds of people -- and
possibly more than 1,000 -- in the worst
fighting in 15 years.
On Sunday, the chairman of a committee
planning a peace and reconciliation
conference said the meeting would be held
June 14 -- the second time it has been
postponed.
"We are trying to reconcile the Somali
clans and we are waiting for international
support," Ali Mahdi Mohmamed said.
