Somalia: WFP world chief visits Puntland, meets President Farole 5 Apr 5, 2011 - 1:41:29 AM Puntland State of Somalia Garowe PRESS RELEASE 5 April 2011 A nine-member delegation led by the head of the U.N. World Food Program (WFP), Ms. Josetta Sheeran, arrived in the Puntland capital of Garowe on Monday. The delegation was welcomed at Garowe International Airport by senior government officials, including Puntland Interior Minister Gen. Abdullahi Jama (Ilkajir) and Security Minister Gen. Yusuf Ahmed Kheir. The delegation was ushered to the State House where the WFP chief met with the President of Puntland, H.E. Abdirahman Mohamed Mohamud (Farole), and other members of the government. Discussions included WFP food aid to Somalia and Puntland particularly, working relations between the government and WFP, acceleration of the Bossaso Port rehabilitation project including drenching, and the relocation of WFP offices from Nairobi to Somalia, and particularly stable regions like Puntland. President Farole and WFP chief Ms. Sheeran held a joint press release after the meeting, expressing their pleasure to have an engagement and dialogue over WFP role in Puntland. Ms. Sheeran promised to consider all the issues discussed with the Puntland Government and said she was delighted for her visit to Puntland, which is the first time she has traveled to Somalia. Source: Government of Puntland State of Somalia

^^^indeed, the problem for a secessionist is that if Somalia is divisable, so is "Somaliland"..

awdal state, the nail in the coffin of the SNM project!

The Creation of Awdal State of Somalia in the North has Put the ...Apr 6, 2011 ... Awdal, Somalia, the Celebrations of the newly created Awdal State of Somalia are underway throughout Somalia and the Awdalites diaspora and ... This is big.

Qarax ka dhacay suuqa Hargeysa oo dad badan wax ku noqdeen 1 day ago | 0 comments 0 Waxaa maanta Qarax bambaano lagu qarxiyey suuqa magaalada Hargeysa, ayadoo la sheegay in ku dhaw 20 qof ay ku dhaawacmeen qaraxaasi. Qaraxan ayaa ka dhacay nawaaxiga Supermarkt Hadiya ee ku yaal bartamaha magaalada Hargeysa, una dhaw xarunta weyn ee shirkada isgaarsiinta ee Telsom. Wararka kasoo baxay Booliiska ayaa sheegay in qaraxan uu geystay nin qaba cudurka dhimirka oo asaguna kamid ah dadkii halkaasi ku dhaawacmay. Ninkan ayaa la sheegay inuu bambaanada F1 uu ku tuuray suuqa. Qaraxan ayaa maanta si weyn looga hadal hayaa magaalada Hargeysa, oo muddooyinkan aysan ka dhicin wax qaraxyo ah. Magaalada Hargeysa ayey aad ugu badan yihiin dadka qaba cudurka dhimirka, dadkaasi oo si weyn loogu dhex arkayo magaalada, ayadoo dadkaasina inta badan ay isticmaalaan maadooriyaal iyo qaadka, walow ay isbitaalo loogu talo galay dadkan oo ku yaal magaalada hase yeeshee waxaan muuqan cid arrimahan iska xil saaray. Waxaa sidoo kale la is weydiinayaa qof cudurkaas qaba sida uu u helay bambaanada uu adeegsaday qaraxan iyo inay cid kale kula talisay ay jiraan. Horseed Media The Hargaysa, Somalia incident injured more than 20 civilians in the middle of the day, in the middle of the busiest market.

On top of all these calmities, the SNM, spearheading an entire division of Mengistu's troops, slaughtered five hundred fifty innocent people in Borama, Dila and Zeila on February 4th, 1991. And when the SNM had occupied, with the "generous" assistance of these troops and had inherited the ammunation dumps in the north of somalia, the first step they took was a deliberate clan-cleansing of the non-Isack clans from their homes at Gebiley, Hargeisa, Arabsiyo, Eiragavo and Ainabo. To humilate further the clans in the north, they hijacked their elders and took them first to Harar (Ethiopia) in April 1991 and later to Burao where they were intimidated to sign a "compulsary declaration of independence" that has been concocted directly by "Mengistu Haila Miriam". Two ex-Ethiopian generals, violating directly the sovereignty of the Somali state, were directing that so-called conference at Burao. Thus, by carrying out these repugnant deeds that are contrary to whatever values or culture we shared as Somlis since the millennium, the SNM dealt a mortal blow to any bonds of brotherhood and sisterhood we shared. Now, if Somalia disintegrates, the Awdalians, who has been the victims of the Somali nationalism, cannot be blamed. History is our testimony that we have persevered in spite of all kinds of oppression and that we have striven to keep Somalia together but that earned us only scron and a threat to our very survival. The pain of living under the SNM and their brutal use of force against the civilians no doubt had an impact on the writer of the piece.

Xiddig, Xalane, and Gaandhi. Funny, the only real thing these men have in common is that they all work or have worked for Sharif Ahmed in the past.

Garoowe:Gurmad caafimaad oo kasocda Puntland oo markii ugu horaysay kaalmooyin deg deg ah kawada deegaano fog fog oo katirsan gobolka Sool. 6. april 2011 APL Garoowe:(Allpuntland)-Gurmad caafimaad oo balaaran oo kasocda Wasaarada caafimaadka ee dawlada Puntland ayaa gaaray deegaano fogfog oo katirsan degmada Taleex ee gobolka Sool halkaas oo ay ka jiraan xaalad culus oo bini aadantinimo kuwaas oo ay Abaar xun & cuduro ay abaartu keentayba ka jiraan,waxaana gurmadkani ay tageen meelo badan oo kamid ah degmada Taleex ee gobolkaas oo ah meelaha ugu daran ee ay abaartu sanadkaan saamaynta balaaran ku yeelatay. Gurmadkan caafimaad oo uu hogaaminayey isuduwaha wasaarada caafimaadka dawlada Puntland ee gobolka Sool ayna ku jireen dhakhaatiir caafimaad & kalkaaliyeyaal sarsare ayaa dawooyin qaybin ka sameeyey dhulka miyiga ah ee deegaanada Laaso-Curdan,Godaalo & Carrooley oo kamid ah degmada Taleex,waxaana sidoo kale uu gurmadkan caafimaad qaabilay boqolaal dadweyne ah oo ay cuduradu soo riteen kuwaas oo xaaladoodu ay liidatay,waxaan ay dadkaasi mahadnaq u direen madaxda wasaarada Caafimaadka Puntland ee xaaladooda wax ka qabatay. Isduwaha Wasaarada caafimaadka dawlada Puntland ee gobolka Sool Cabdiraxmaan Cumar Cadde oo kusugan deegaanka Godaalo oo 85-Km u jirta degmada Taleex ee gobolka Sool ayaa APL u sheegey in ay qaabileen in kabadan 400-Ruux kuwaas oo ay soo riteen cudurada yimaada waqtiyada abaarta oo ay ugu daranyihiin Burukiitada caruurta ku qabata kulaylka,wuxuuna intaas kudaray in ay dadka qaarkood xaaladoodu liidato islamarkaasna ay meelaha qaar ka bixiyeen dawooyin,isagoo intaas kudaray in ay jiraan dad badan oo ay nafaqo dari haysay oo ay iyagana qaabileen kuwaas oo uu sheegey inay dawooyin siiyeen,isagoo sidoo kalena sheegey inay jiraan shuba biyood meelaha qaarkood ka jira. Cabdiraxmaan Cumar wuxuu sheegey in ay weli sii wadayaan gargaarka ay halkaas kawadaan oo uu sheegey inay rajeynayaan in ay dadbadani u hamuun qabaan,waxaana uu ka deyriyey xaalada deegaanadaas oo ay ugu daranyihiin ceelashii Bamka ahaa oo jabay iyadoo intabadan dadku ay cabaan biyaha ceelal afka ka banaan kuwaas oo xataa biyaha la cabayo badalay midabkooda aysanna dadku sii cabi karin,waxaana gurmadkan oo tagay dhul aad u fog uu kamid noqonayaa qorshay wasaarada Caafimaadka dawlada Puntland oo sanadkaan qorshaheeda ku dartay gaarista deegaanada aadka uga fog laamiga,isagoo isuduwaha wasaarada Caafimaadku uu mahadcelin balaaran u diray madaxda Wasaarada oo uu sheegey inay xil weyn iska saareen wax u qabashada dadka ay abaartu saamaysay. Cabdiqani Xayir Allpuntland

Galkacyu will see better days insha Allah. Its already on its way to becoming one of the largest and best cities in all of Somali lands.

Xaaji Xunjuf;709352 wrote: ^^ No that's saado cali and her crew Thats right saxib, Saado has added AWDAL in her crew. You after all have a different Gene to everyone else. Its that Anglo Saxon DNA that British left no doubt..

Awdal "Republic": Declaration of Independence, [somalia] COPY OF AN OPEN LETTER TO THE SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS: AWDAL REPUBLIC DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE Proud to be the direct descendants of the Awdal (Adel) empire inhabitants, we are happy to announce that from now on we will revive our civilization and bring it back to the track from which it was derailed by the foreign forces. The Awdal Republic that will soon emerge will be democratic, compassionate and civilized. Certaintly when we achieve our goal, gone will be the days when the Awdalians were the naked needles that sewed other people's clothes; gone will be the days when our destiny was in unfriendly hands and gone will be the days when we believed blindly in Somali nationalism. We believe strongly that a nation is a nation when the basic right of every individual is guaranteed but when the state in whose bosom the individual is supposed to feel secure is turned into a clannish spear to tear the flesh of the former rival clans, then it becomes the responsibility of every group to protect its citizens. Awdalians are no exceptions. By breaching the terms of the treaties with the Awdalians, the British derailed our state and played poker with our territory. The remaining parts of Awdal joined voluntarily to Somalia on 1st July 1960. The only fruits of independence became a nightmare: the loss of sovereignty, denial of basic rights of the individual, naked nepotism, intentional underdevelopment by taxing the people without ever spending a penny for the Awdalian welfare. The sandy beaches of Mogadishu sucked and absorbed that revenue. " We cann't fill the bag whose bottom lies at Mogadishu and whose rim touches Loyi'ado - a distance of two thousand kilometers-!", an Awdalian complained once. Awdal became the true stepchild of Somalia. A single project was not carried out in Awdal since independence. The virtual nonexistence of any infrastructure in Awdal, its neglected landscape that was denuded of both flora and fauna, and the abject poverty of its citizens speaks poetically for the kind of union that we were duped into. In addition, the Awdalian carried the brunt of the wars against the dictatorial regimes of ex-Ethiopia. As a result the ex-regime's troops shelled, bombed and strafed all towns and villages in Awdal. On 31st January 1984, the Mengistu planes killed in twenty seconds eighty-four civilians, including thirty-five children, at Borama. While all this was going on, most Somalis were ignorant of the plight of these people and no one reported their continuous suffereng. Moreover, the Awdalians shared with the rest of the country the brutal oppression of dictator Said Barre. It goes down in history that the first innocent civilian killed by Barre's firing squads in Hargiesa in 1970 was from Awdal. On top of all these calmities, the SNM, spearheading an entire division of Mengistu's troops, slaughtered five hundred fifty innocent people in Borama, Dila and Zeila on February 4th, 1991. And when the SNM had occupied, with the "generous" assistance of these troops and had inherited the ammunation dumps in the north of somalia, the first step they took was a deliberate clan-cleansing of the non-Isack clans from their homes at Gebiley, Hargeisa, Arabsiyo, Eiragavo and Ainabo. To humilate further the clans in the north, they hijacked their elders and took them first to Harar (Ethiopia) in April 1991 and later to Burao where they were intimidated to sign a "compulsary declaration of independence" that has been concocted directly by "Mengistu Haila Miriam". Two ex-Ethiopian generals, violating directly the sovereignty of the Somali state, were directing that so-called conference at Burao. Thus, by carrying out these repugnant deeds that are contrary to whatever values or culture we shared as Somlis since the millennium, the SNM dealt a mortal blow to any bonds of brotherhood and sisterhood we shared. Now, if Somalia disintegrates, the Awdalians, who has been the victims of the Somali nationalism, cannot be blamed. History is our testimony that we have persevered in spite of all kinds of oppression and that we have striven to keep Somalia together but that earned us only scron and a threat to our very survival. We can't be aprt of a nation guided by the whims of crazy clannish zealots; nor shall we be part of a nation kept together by coercion, and we will never accept again to be the underdogs waiting for the offal. We understand fully that the decisions we have taken are not light but God has not ordained that we become the guardians of the Somali nation. after seeing half a million of its people starved to death and millions of others obliged to go through all kinds of humiliation, Somalia is not the same any more. Therefore, by solemnly declaring our independence, we are confident that the Somali people will support us for they understand fully the conditions and circumstances that abliged us to undertake this historic decision. Henceforth, we are the Awdal Republic - the heart of the *** clan (********** and ISSA) - and our boundaries are those of the 19th century Awdal. Signed by the people of Awdal Republic. From: Ben.Parker@unep.no Subject: Awdal "republic" - Somalia - for Hornet Date: Mon, 13 Feb 95 08:32:42 GMT Message-Id: [9502130832.2A32AC@extern02.unep.no

The marxum who was killed in Garowe by the mad men.

Hargaysa, Somalia terror comes to the people..

Akash;709078 wrote: This is AWDAL Diaspora joining with other Somali's of the same unionist genetic Genetic persuasion, draped in the beloved blue flag.

AUN to the dead. The security of the safe parts of Somalia should not be jeopardized.

Qarax ka dhacay Hargeisa iyo Guddoomiyaha Gobolka oo ka hadlay (SAWIRRO) Talaado, 05 April, 2011 (HOL)- Nin la sheegay in Xiskiisu dhiman yahay, ayaa saaka Bambo-gacmeed la beegsaday Suuq ay dadku ku badan yihiin oo ku yaala magaalada Hargeisa, waxaana arrintaa ka hadlay Guddoomiyaha Gobolka Maroodi-jeex Axmed Cumar X. Cabdilaahi (Xamarje). Suuqa badhtamaha Hargeisa, gaar ahaan xerada lagu iibiyo dallagga dalka ee Hadhuudhka, Galleyda iyo raashinka kale ee dalka laga beero, ayuu ninkani la beegsaday Bambo kuwa gacanta laga tuuro ah. Guddoomiyaha gobolka Maroodi-Jeex Md. Axmed Cumar Xaaji Cabdilaahi (Xamarje) ayaa faahfaahin dheeraad ah ka bixiyey khasaaraha uu ka dhashay Qaraxan, waxana uu sheegay in ay dhaawacu marayo 11 qof. Sidoo kalena waxa uu Gudoomiyaha Gobolku sheegay in dadkaasi ku dhaawacmay dhacdani ay soo gaadheen dhaawacyo isugu jira kuwo culus siyo qaar fududba, isla markaana dhamaantood lagu daweynayo Xarunta Cisbitaaalka Guud ee Magaalada Hargeysa. “Saaka ayaa Qarax uu ka dhacay Fooqa Geelle Arab ee agagaarka Xero-Hadhuudha ee Magaaalada Hargeysa, waxa Qaraxaasi qarxiyey Nin waalan, dadka dhaawaca ah ilaa hadda waxa cusbatalka guud ee Hargeisa la keenay 11 qof, dhakhaatiirtuna si weyn ayey ugu hawlan tahay Gargaarka ay u fidinayaan dadkaasi,”ayuu yidhi Guddoomiyuhu, waxaanu intaa raaciyay oo uu yidhi, “Waa Masiibo kolay nin Xis-kiisu dhiman yahay ayey ka qaraxday, dhaawaxyada Dadkaasina kuwo culus iyo qaar fuduba wey isugu jiraan, dadkaasi 11 ah ilaa 4 ayaa haweena wixii faahfaain ee intaas dheerna baadhitaan ayaanu ku wadnaa.” Xubno ka tirsan warbaahinta dalka oo tagay goobtii ay dhibaatadu ka dhacday si ay ugu heleen warar dheeraa ah oo qaraxaasi ku saabsan, ayaan loo ogolaan in ay galaan gudaha Cusbatalka, hase ahaatee, waxa halkaa warbaahinta kula hadlay qof ka mid ah dadkii goobjooga ahaa markii uu qaraxaasi dhacay, “Saaka ilaa abaaro 09:30 ayaa uu nin waalan oo sita miino, nooca loo yaqaan F1 oo meesha marayaa ayaa ay caruuri ka cadhaysiisay, dadbdeedna bahashii uu sitay ayaa uu meeshaa barxada ah ee fooqaa hostiisa ku taal ku dhuftay, markii koowaad waxba may noqon, hadana uu ku celiyey markii labaad ayey qarax samaysay. Qaraxu mid weyn ma uu ahayn, laakiin waxa uu dhibta ku keenay, waxa uu lahaa Firidh balaadhan, dabadeena waxa halkaasi ku wax yeeloobay dadkii meesha marayey oo isugu jiray Rag iyo dumarba, sidoo kalena Kharaxaasi waxa uu khasaare gaadhsiiyey laba gaadhi oo meesha taagnaa iyo alabaaka hore ee fooqa uu qaraxu ka hor dhacay,” ayuu yidhi. Xukuumadda Somaliland ayaan ka hadal halka uu ninkan Waalani ka keenay Bamba-gacmeedka, waxaanay wararku sheegayaan in marba-marka ka dambaysa ay isa soo tarayaan dadka ku dhaawacmay Qaraxan. Barkhad M. Kaariye Hiiraan Online barqad@hiiraan.com Hargeisa, Somaliland

Dabley hubeysan oo dad ku laayey caasimadda Puntland ee Garowe 3 hours ago | 6 comments Marxuum: Maxamed Yasin Ciise (Ilkacase) Waxaa maanta ka dhacay bartamaha caasimadda Puntland ee Garowe dil aad u foolxun, kadib marki dabley hubeysan ay rasaas la beegsadeen Sarkaal ka tirsan Hay’adda Cilmibaarista Puntland ee PDRC. Maxamed Yaasiin Ciise (Ilkacase) oo ahaa Maamulka maamulka ee PDRC ayaa kamid ahaa dadkii ku dhintey dilkaas fooshaxun, waxaana wararku sheegayaan in Ilkacase uu ahaa bartilmaameedka dableyda. Dadka ku dhintey weerarka dableyda hubeysan ayaa la sheegayaa in ay gaarayaan ilaa 4 qof Sarkaalka PDRC-da Ilkacase iyo laba nin oo kale oo gaariga la saarnaa, sidoo kale waxaa shilkaas ku dhimatay gabadh gurigeeda dhex joogtey kadib markii gaariga marxuuminiinta la diley uu gudaha u galay maadaama dareewalku uu meyd ahaa. Wararka ayaa intaas ku daraya in ay jiraan ilaa 5 qof oo kale oo rasaastii dableydu rideysey ku dhaawacmey. Waxaa isla goobta ka baxsadey dableydii dilka geystey inkasta oo Boolisku ku raadjoogo, waxaana wararka qaarkood sheegayaan in dilkaani uu ahaa mid la xiriira aano qabiil inkasta oo saddexda nin ee dhintey kala beelo ahaayeen. Maxamed Yaasiin Ciise (Ilkacase) ayaa ka tirsanaa hay’adda PDRC tan iyo sanadkii 1998-dii, waxaana uu la shaqo bilaabey markii la dhihi jirey War-town Society, waxa uu ahaa nin aad u fur-furan, shaqo badan isla markaana kamid ahaa tiirarka PDRC. Dhamaan shaqaalaha Warbaahinta Horseed Media waxay tacsi tiiraanyo leh u dirayaan qoyskii iyo qaraabadii uu ka tegay Ilkacase, sidoo kale waxaan tacsi taas lamid ah u direynaa shaqaalaha hay’adda PDRC geerida naxdinta leh ee ku timid. Horseed Media

This is a big setback for the secessionist. Gone are the days when they claimed their had the support of all the people. Now the traingle itself will come out against this nonsense of a project.

Another history listen, this time in video.. <img src="" alt="" />

Beyond The Failed State: Time To Recognise Somaliland Mark Seddon on April 1, 2011, 4:58 AM He got you all good, after all its April 1st..

Abidjan, Ivory Coast (dpa) - Ivory Coast rebels appeared poised to oust President Laurent Gbagbo Friday amid heavy fighting, following a lightning assault through the country and an attack on the economic capital Abidjan. There was mystery over the whereabouts of Gbagbo. Reports that rebels had seized Gbagbo's residence could not be confirmed as attempts to contact members of Gbagbo's inner circle were unsuccessful. France's ambassador to the Ivory Coast, Jean-Marc Simon, was quoted by France 24 as saying that Gbagbo was not in his residence, but was probably in the presidential palace. Witnesses said Gbagbo's Republican Guard and northern rebels New Forces, which control the north of the country, backed by other military and operating under the new name Republican Forces of Cote D'Ivoire (FRCI), were exchanging shells and gunfire in the Cocody district, near Gbagbo's home. However, many of Gbagbo's troops appeared to have deserted. A military source, who asked not to be named, said: 'The gendarmerie and estimated number of 50,000 soldiers have abandoned their positions. Only the pro-Gbagbo Republican Guard and armed students, around 2,000 combatants, are still fighting to defend Gbagbo's residence'. As the fighting continued, some 500 foreign nationals took refuge at a French peacekeeping base in the city. Colonel Thierry Burkhard, spokesman for the armed forces, told the German Press Agency dpa that the group consisted mainly of French and Lebanese nationals living in the city's Zone IV, where many expatriates live. The group took shelter at the French base of Port Bouet, near the airport. 'Some made their way there by themselves. Others who didn't have any means of getting there were evacuated by Licorne forces,' Burkhard said. French troops stationed in Ivory Coast under Operation Licorne (Unicorn) are patrolling Zone IV and other parts of the city to protect foreign nationals and prevent looting. Ivory Coast was plunged into unrest when Gbagbo refused to cede power to his rival Alassane Ouattara after November elections the United Nations says the president lost. However, serious military action by the rebel forces backing Ouattara only got underway in recent weeks after mediation efforts and sanctions failed to budge Gbagbo. FRCI forces have already overrun Yamoussoukro, the nation's political capital and the city of San Pedro, the world's largest cocoa-exporting port. Patrick Achi, a spokesman for Ouattara, said that the rebels have seized control of the state-run RTI, which had been broadcasting pro-Gbagbo propaganda. Outtara's government-in-waiting has also ordered the closure of all borders. RTI stopped broadcasting at 2245 GMT. However, Achi said he did not believe Gbagbo had fled. '(Gbagbo) hasn't shown any signs of giving up,' he said. 'I don't think he will see the game is up, because he really believes God will save him ... Gbagbo is in his house. I'm certain.' Gbagbo has been abandoned by many of his close collaborators, who have sought refuge in foreign embassies in Abidjan. General Philippe Mangou, his chief of staff, is staying at the South African embassy with his family now, sources said. In the meantime, many army generals have joined Ouattara. 'To those of you who are still hesitating - whether you are generals, officers or soldiers, I ask you to rejoin lawfulness, there is still time to join your brothers in arms, your country calls you,' Ouattara said in a statement.

Laurent Gbagbo is a classically educated academic turned opposition leader, now seen as just another African leader destroying his country by refusing to accept defeat at the ballot box. After 20 years in opposition, he came to power in 2000, when military leader Robert Guei's attempts to rig elections were defeated by street protests by Mr Gbagbo's supporters in the main city, Abidjan. Now, he is the one clinging to power after an election dispute and security forces loyal to him accused of firing at unarmed demonstrators in Abidjan. Mr Gbagbo cut his political teeth in the trade union movement and he plays heavily on his reputation as the main opposition figure to former President Felix Houphouet-Boigny's one-party state. He started out on the political left, but since the 1980s he has taken a strongly nationalist, even xenophobic, stance. 'Change your glasses' Mr Gbagbo says the dispute is about a fight for Ivorian (and indeed African) sovereignty and accuses the French and Americans of having it in for him. Ivory Coast is the nation blessed by God and neo-colonialists want to control it for its cocoa and oil fields, he says. Gbagbo's Dates With History 1971: Jailed for "subversive teaching" 1982: Exile in Paris after union activism 1988: Returns to Ivory Coast 1990: Defeated in elections 1992: Jailed after student protests 2000: Declared winner of disputed elections 2002: Failed coup divides Ivory Coast 2007: Agrees power-sharing government with former rebels 2010: Elections held five years later. Refuses to go after UN says he lost However, this ploy has not succeeded and the African Union has backed the UN's finding that Mr Gbagbo lost the November 2010 election and he should stand down. He was accused of surfing on the wave of xenophobia which swept Ivory Coast during the rule of President Henri Konan Bedie. Mr Bedie introduced the concept of "Ivoirite" (Ivorianness) to prevent Alassane Ouattara, a Muslim from the north, from standing in presidential elections in the 1990s. Mr Gbagbo denied allegations of opportunism. "I have not changed," he said at the time. "You must change your glasses." It now looks like Mr Ouattara, the UN-recognised winner of November's election, could have the last laugh, as his forces close in on the presidential palace in Abidjan. Since the 2002 civil war broke out, Mr Gbagbo's supporters have been accused of carrying out xenophobic attacks in the areas they control - against those from the mainly Muslim north, immigrants from neighbouring African countries and Westerners. They accused former colonial power France and the international community of not doing enough to put down the rebellion. 'Cicero' Laurent Gbagbo was born into a Catholic family near Gagnoa, in the cocoa-growing centre-west of the country, nearly 60 years ago. "Cicero", as he was nicknamed because of his taste for Latin during his schooldays, has a PhD in history. Some say Mr Gbagbo's wife, Simone, is the real power behind the throne Beginning his career as a university lecturer, Mr Gbagbo was jailed for two years in 1971 for "subversive" teaching. His nom de guerre was "little brother". In the 1980s he was involved in trade union activity among academics. He was one of the first to challenge Ivory Coast's founding President Houphouet-Boigny in the 1980s, as soon as the long-serving independence leader permitted multi-party politics. In 1982 he sought exile in Paris, returning six years later to attend the founding congress of the Ivorian Popular Front (FPI). His time as an opposition leader led to spells in jail and brushes with the authorities. His wife, Simone, is a powerful politician in her own right and some see her as the real hardline power behind the throne, preventing her husband from giving up power. The couple have two daughters. 'Good company' After his election in 2000, Mr Gbagbo said he would break with the personality cult tradition, saying it was no longer necessary to put up portraits of the president in public places and offices. He also said that the national media would no longer be obliged to mention the president in all news programmes. But while he was in power, most news broadcasts highlight Mr Gbagbo's daily activities. He has a reputation for being short-tempered, in particular against "arrogant" journalists, but he is also known for his contagious laughs and vigorous handshakes. In person he has a broad smile and an easy laugh, and is a born communicator, frequently making use of metaphors from Ivorian daily life. He is said to have a passion for music, guitar and good food. "It is a pleasure to have him round for dinner," one of his friends was quoted as saying in Jeune Afrique-L'Intelligent magazine. Still, the man who campaigned under the slogan "we win or we win", can be a stubborn political player and, his opponents claim, has links to violent militia groups like the students' union, the Fesci, the Young Patriots, and death squads, despite his reputation as a peaceful, Sorbonne-educated socialist. The UN blames his militias for the worst violence against civilians. He has also earned himself the nickname "the baker" for his ability to "roll his opponents in the flour", after showing an uncanny knack of coming out on top in any political tussle. But he may now have met his match.

Rebel forces in Ivory Coast have laid siege to the presidential residence in Abidjan as the incumbent leader, Laurent Gbagbo, makes a desperate last stand to cling to power. There was also fierce fighting around the state TV building which, after showing senior military officers pledge allegiance to the government, went off air on Thursday night. Forces backing presidential claimant Alassane Ouattara have overrun nearly 80% of the country as soldiers fled and towns fell in quick succession. They look set for a final push but are encountering strong resistance at the fortified presidential residence. Ouattara's spokesman, Patrick Achi, told Reuters: "His house is under attack. That's for sure. There is a resistance, but it's under attack. "[Gbagbo] hasn't shown any signs of giving up. I don't think he will see the game is up, because he really believes God will save him ... Gbagbo is in his house. I'm certain. He hasn't gone anywhere." The regular army put up almost no opposition during a four-day offensive, including in the ruler's hometown, where rebels said they broke into Gbagbo's compound and slept in his bed. Some 50,000 soldiers, police and gendarmes have abandoned Gbagbo, according to the head of the UN mission, Choi Young-jin. "Only the Republican Guard and his special forces have remained loyal, guarding the palace and residence," he told France-Info. Gunfire could be heard throughout Abidjan on Thursday, along with the concussive boom of heavy artillery. Reporters saw soldiers in camouflage race across the waterside highway in pickup trucks mounted with machine guns. UN and French peacekeepers moved to secure Abidjan airport by sending armed elements and additional personnel there, a UN official in New York said. Sources said Gbagbo's forces requested the UN support to allow their withdrawal. An internal UN report, seen by Reuters, also said pro-Gbagbo forces had abandoned a blockade of a hotel where Ouattara and his supporters have been camped for months. It said peacekeepers had exchanged fire with Gbagbo loyalists in several parts of the city. As his forces amassed on the outskirts of Abidjan, Ouattara made a final appeal to Gbagbo to step down, and called on the rest of the army to defect. "[My fighters[ have come to restore democracy and ensure respect of the vote by the people," Ouattara said in an address broadcast on his private TV station. "Today they are at the doorstep of Abidjan. "To all those who are still hesitating, whether you are generals, superior officers, officers, sub officers, rank and file ... there is still time to join your brothers in arms." As the columns of pro-Ouattara forces advanced, the head of the army, general Phillippe Mangou, sought refuge at the home of the South African ambassador in Abidjan with his wife and five children, according to South Africa's foreign ministry. Ouattara was declared the winner of last November's presidential election by the country's election commission in results verified by international observers. But after a decade in power, Gbagbo, a Sorbonne-educated history professor, refused to accept his loss. He has used the military to attack pro-Ouattara areas with heavy artillery and is accused of arming citizen militias and recruiting foreign mercenaries to cling to power. Up to a million people have fled the fighting and at least 490 people have been killed since the election, most of them supporters of Ouattara. The true figure is believed to be far higher, with the Red Cross warning that casualties run into thousands. Gbagbo has not been seen in public since this week's military offensive began, even though state TV announced on Wednesday that he was preparing to address the nation. Those who know him well say even an armed onslaught will not make Gbagbo cede power. "He has no intention of resigning," said one of his advisers in Europe, Toussaint Alain. "He will not resign in the wake of this attack. He is not going to abdicate. He is not going to lay down his arms. He will stay in power to lead the resistance to this attack against Ivory Coast." However, a senior diplomat who has been in contact with members of Gbagbo's inner circle told the Associated Press that a standoff appeared to be building between hardliners who want Gbagbo to fight to the end and others who are urging him to step down. It is not clear what the pro-Ouattara fighters will do if they manage to reach the presidential palace. Ouattara's spokesman refused to speculate, but said the use of force was necessary because Gbagbo has frustrated all attempts to find a diplomatic solution. "The end is almost here," Achi said. "It's a matter of hours. We issued our ultimatum yesterday ... If Gbagbo does not want the fighting to happen in Abidjan, he should surrender. If he doesn't, we have no choice." Ouattara's "government" announced a three-day overnight curfew and ordered the closure of land, air and sea borders. There were widespread reports of looting. On Thursday, the UN secretary-general, Ban Ki-moon, reiterated his demand that Gbagbo immediately cede power to Ouattara "to enable the full transition of state institutions to the legitimate authorities," said spokesman Farhan Haq. In Washington, the leading US diplomat for Africa, Johnnie Carson, said Gbagbo needed to seize this last opportunity to step aside. "There is a clear indication that the military forces of Gbagbo have started to disintegrate," he said. "The rapid pace at which Alassane Ouattara's forces have been able to move across the country from east to west and up to Abidjan suggests that there have been widespread desertions in the Gbagbo forces." Ouattara's fighters are drawn largely from a rebel group based in the north of the country that launched a 2002 rebellion against Gbagbo. For more than three months, Ouattara refused to allow them to march on Abidjan. The advance was a last resort after all other diplomatic means had failed, Ouattara's supporters claim.

^^^Simplistic arguments wont do. This war has to end, and it can with an all inclusive Somali conference inside Somalia. Otherwise let the TFG have its extension and continue its work. I dont care even if Hargaysa is made capital and Siilanyo becomes Presidnet of Somalia as long as the union holds and there is no more war. Another Nairobi conference will not do.

^^^Liibaan adeer you might as well join the secessionist now for as the case Kayse highlighted this whole SSC project is heading the same route as Xabsade. Why waste time with the pretences? Just join them now and spare yourself the energy and the lies.