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Govt Forces Detain a Prominent Hawiye Elder


Shabelle Media Network (Mogadishu)


NEWS
11 November 2007
Posted to the web 12 November 2007
Mogadishu

Armed forces with battle wagons from the transitional government have on Sunday
morning raided the spokesman of the Hawiye elder's council Ahmed Diriye Ali's
home taking him with them in Bakara market in Hawl -Wadag market in south of
the capital Mogadishu.

The chairman of Hawiye elder's council Mohamed Hassan Haad has confirmed to
Shabelle radio that Ahmed Diriye was forcibly taken away from his house by
heavily armed men in uniform baked by gun mounted cars. The forces broke the
door of his home.



According to, Mohamed Hassan Haad the government forces had taken away Mohamed
Diriye along with his two sons and Sheik Ahmed Ali Gees a member of Hawiye
council.

It is not clear where and why he was taken to,

Mr. Haad told Shabelle radio that Ahmed Diriye was receiving both death threats
from the government side particularly from the administration of Banadir
region.

Hawiye is a pre-dominant clan in the capital Mogadishu.

Mohamed Hassan Haad, The chairman of Hawiye elder's council has urged the
government to release Ahmed Diriye very soon.

There has no been immediate comment about the arrest of the spokesman from the
government.

Mr. Diriye had previously accused the government and its Ethiopian ally of
violating the human laws by killing innocent civilians in Mogadishu.

Transitional government officials have several times warned to Mr. Diriye to
refrain from speaking ill against the government and Banadir Distraction, says
Mohamed Hassan Haad.


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