New Somali president moves to drive militiamen from capital

MOGADISHU, Somalia (Reuters) -- Somalia's new government is moving to drive out militiamen from the streets of the capital, hoping to end the power of the country's warlords once and for all.

Armed to the teeth and led by warlords opposed to the new government, the militiamen pose the most immediate threat to President Abdiqassim Salad Hassan, who was elected late last month by a fledgling parliament-in-exile.

Mogadishu's most prominent businessmen, working on behalf of the new president, are financing a plan to lure the clan-based militiamen away from their leaders and into a separate 4,000-strong force for training as policemen.

A so-called security committee has been set up to direct the demobilization effort and has been promised $750,000 for the first three months.

It says many militiamen have already promised to desert their faction leaders within the next week, taking with them their "technicals," trucks mounted with anti-aircraft guns that have become the ultimate symbol of authority in Mogadishu over the past decade.

The more disciplined militias that protect local businesses and the Islamic courts set up by religious leaders are also expected to hand in their heavy weapons because their paymasters back Abdiqassim Salad.

If successful, the demobilization would draw away enough militiamen to significantly weaken the warlords.

That would end a nine-year reign of terror in Mogadishu, allow Abdiqassim Salad's government to take office and provide the basis for a new security apparatus.

Not surprisingly, four of Mogadishu's five main faction leaders are promising resistance and, after years of fighting turf wars that have destroyed the country, say they will work together against the new government.

"We are all opposed to it," said Muse Sudi Yalahow, who has his stronghold in the sprawling Medina district.

"Each faction leader is responsible for his area of the capital and he will defend it. If any of them are weakened, we will help them. We are united in collaborating to resist these people," he told Reuters on Friday.

Gunfire echoed across Medina for a third straight day on Friday amid reports that Yalahow's militiamen were fighting between themselves and two were killed. Yalahow said they were simply testing their weapons ahead of possible clashes with pro-government forces.

The new president's allies dismiss talk of resistance, saying the warlords have lost much of their power because they are no longer supported by their own clans.

Many of the militiamen have been hired away from the faction leaders and into the Islamic Courts or business militias in the past two years, and more could now defect in search of a police career and a steady salary.

"Of course the warlords are not happy but they cannot change the situation. They cannot afford to pay them or feed them," said General Mohamed Nor Galal, one of the former military officers leading the new security committee.

Like the others, Galal served under former dictator Mohamed Siad Barre, whose overthrow in early 1991 sparked the clan-based fighting that plunged Somalia into chaos and devastated this once-beautiful coastal city.

The Mogadishu warlords and the northern regions of Puntland and Somaliland have attacked the new government and parliament as an alliance of Islamic fundamentalists and discredited officials from the Siad Barre regime.

Many Somalis do seem concerned by the involvement of former army generals -- including some with allegations of human rights abuses against them.

Tens of thousands of people celebrated in the streets when Abdiqassim Salad -- once Siad Barre's interior minister -- made a two-day visit to Mogadishu after being elected president.

Copyright 2000 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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