Some in Somalia Fear Ex-Warlord Is Back

Abdi Noure Siad, left, and Mohammad Qanyareh Afrah, right, both former war lords in Mogadishu meet again in Mogadishu, Somalia Sunday Dec 31, 2006, for the first time in the city after they were defeated by the Islamic courts in June. Only a few days after the fall of the United Islamic Courts in Mogadishu, Ethiopian and Transitional Federal Government troops are patrolling the city and securing strategic locations. The people in Mogadishu appear confused and doubtful. (AP Photo/Guy Calaf) (Guy Calaf - AP)

The government insists it has control of the city, but has appealed for peacekeepers.

Afrah had led a U.S.-backed warlord alliance against the Islamic movement until its defeat in June.

The warlords, most of them clan based, ruled the African nation of 8 million after overthrowing longtime dictator Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991. They divided the country into a patchwork of rival fiefdoms, plunging the country into chaos.

Two years ago, a transitional central government was set up with the help of the United Nations. But it failed to assert control until last week, after Ethiopia stepped in.

The government has little popular support. One factor may be the participation of former warlords, including Afrah, a member of Parliament.

Afrah said he supports disarming the city's gunmen, but would not tell his militia to surrender its weapons unless Parliament passes legislation stating the government's specific aims.

Prime Minister Mohamed Ali Gedi said Saturday he expected to disarm Mogadishu within three weeks. Afrah called that wishful thinking.

"From Somaliland to Kismayo, the guns are everywhere," Afrah said. "But the word of one man with one microphone cannot solve this."