By Tesfa-alem Tekle

August 21, 2008 (ADDIS ABABA) — The Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union (AU) Jean Ping, welcomed the peace deal signed in Djibouti between Somalia government and major opposition groups. A statement from the African union said on Thursday.

In a UN brokered meeting on August 19, 2008 in Djibouti, the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) of Somalia and the alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia (ARS) signed an agreement.

The chairperson warmly commended the Somali parties for the commitment and the spirit of compromise they have displayed.

The Somalia parties agreed to continue the political dialogue between them and refrain from making provocative statements.

Ping called on the international community to provide the necessary support to sustain the current political momentum.

The Djibouti Agreement also seeks the replacement of Ethiopian troops supporting the transitional government with U.N. peacekeepers, who would also take over the duties of a small, ill-funded African Union force

According to The statement the signing of the agreement marks a very significant step in the efforts being made towards the promotion of lasting peace and reconciliation in Somalia.

The chairs person reiterated AU’s determination, including through AMISOM, to support and accompany the TFG, the ARS and the other Somali stakeholders as they strive to bring to an end the violence in the country.

The AU will work closely with UN to ensue that all the necessary arrangements it said including the early deployment of a UN peacekeeping operation, are put in place to facilitate the effective implementation of the Djibouti Agreement and the long term stabilization and reconstruction of Somalia.

The chairperson also expressed satisfaction at the conclusion of the deliberations of the high level committee and the joint security committee established under the Djibouti Agreement and which just met.

Thousands of Somalis have died in more than 18 months of fighting between the insurgents and the Ethiopian-backed government. The Ethiopians invaded Somalia in late 2006 to help the government oust an Islamist movement from power in southern and central areas of the country.

AL-SHABAB SNUBS DJIBOUTI PEACE DEAL

In a teleconference he held for the local media on Wednesday night spokes person of the group Sheikh Moqtar Robow Abu Mansur has avowed that the Djibouti peace deal jointly signed by Somali government and the major opposition group, Alliance for the re liberation of Somalia was "futile"

"The Jihad will keep on, there is no peace agreement, the martyrs will move ahead to the Jihad bath even if Ethiopians pull out" Robow said.’ there were no representatives from the Mujahidin at what called "peace deal" He added that the end of hostilities hinges on the re-establishing of Islamic sharia in Somalia.

"Our objective is not only fighting, we want the Islamic sharia to be the constitution of Somalis" he added.

(ST)