Stephen Wandera
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
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| Khadija Gurhan, wife of former General Mohamed F. Aideed
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Speaking to the Daily Monitor on Friday from her Kampala residence, Ms Aideed urged African leaders to take immediate action to avert the crisis in Somalia.
"Mr Koffi Annan played a great role in the Kenyan crisis. I urge him to do the same for Somalia as the situation is getting worse," she said.
She praised the UPDF for the immediate intervention but urged the East African community and African Union to act fast. She described the situation in Somalia as "disastrous".
"Women are dying, children are sleeping in trees. They lack food, medicine and water. The international community should speed up its support," she said.
Ms Aideed said Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi promised to withdraw the troops once the African Union takes over security.
"He (Museveni) has helped to bring peace in Somalia but we need more African leaders to come on board," she said. She urged Somalia president Abdulay Yusuf to talk peace with the opposition.
The Somali crisis started following death of Said Bare that brought the desert country into chaos with various rebel factions and war lords.
Mohammed Fara Aideed, was killed on January 28, 1998 after a firefight between his forces and a rival rebel faction.
Source: The Monitor, June 24, 2008