20100117
alklafrica

Somalia's president Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed said his country lacks the international support it needs to prevent powerful Al-Qaeda-backed insurgents from overthrowing his fragile government.

Sharif said his government only control pocketful of Mogadishu with the rest including southern Somalia under the hands of Al-Shabaab and Hizbul Islam, the two main insurgent groups.

"Somalia is facing crisis brought about by foreign groups currently in the country, who are determined to frustrate any peace attempts," he added.

"We need international support, because the country is ruined and is becoming home to some elements of Al-Qaeda who resolved to clear plans."

Some 5,100-strong African Union peacekeeping troops are currently in the war-torn country to try to shore up the UN-backed government from the powerful insurgents and control strategic sites such as airport and presidential palace.

Somali presidents accuse the international community of planning to go back against their pledges, which was to support his Djibouti-formed government both financially and politically.

"The enemy prepared itself and wanted to bring down this government before it could accomplish its mission. Surely, that act has its own risks. We are expecting the world to help us fight these groups," he said.

Commenting about the piracy menace in the high seas, Sharif said his government is not in the position to tackle at the moment.

"Piracy, which is the other major problem, is caused by years of lawlessness in the country. So my government can not do anything about it,"

Sharif's remarks come as his Presidential Palace Villa Somalia comes under heavy mortar attack launched by Al-Shabaab fighters.

Heavy exchange of gunfire and mortar shells has claimed the lives of at least four people while five others were wounded.

The Horn of African country is marred by years of civil strife that erupted after the ouster of the regime of President Mohammed Siad Bare in 1991.