Islamist Militants Vow More Attacks on Peacekeepers in Somalia

(23 Feb 09 - RV) Somalia's hard-line Islamist insurgent group al Shabaab pledged to launch more attacks on African Union (AU) peacekeepers after the deadliest strike yet killed at least 11 soldiers from Burundi.


Analysts had hoped the election of moderate Islamist leader, Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed as president would bring many of Somalia's Islamic factions into a more inclusive government.

Members of parliament are presently in Djibouti, working on a peace process to end the ongoing war that has left thousands of civilians dead.


The apostolic administrator for Mogadishu, Bishop Giorgio Bertin, told us more about the challenges facing the new government.