Somalia: Assassinations Aimed At 'Spoiling' Djibouti Agreement, Says Deputy Speaker

Posted to the web 24 July 2008 Somalia's interim federal government held a session in the southwestern town of Baidoa Wednesday, where lawmakers condemned a recent wave of assassinations targeting aid workers, businesspeople and civilians in the troubled Horn of Africa country. Deputy Speaker Mohamed Omar Dalha, who chaired today's meeting, told parliament that violent groups responsible for the killings want to keep Somalia embroiled in endless war. "The killings of humanitarian workers, businesspeople and other civilians is aimed at spoiling the Djibouti Peace Agreement and we condemn [such killings]," Dalha told lawmakers, while urging Somali and international support for the peace deal between the interim government and an Islamist-dominated opposition group. The Somali parliament's Deputy Speaker warned the country that... [read full story]