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UNITED NATIONS (AFP) - Fresh from brokering the creation of a new Somali government, Djibouti's President Ismael Guelleh on Tuesday called for the lawless country's warlords to accept their new president and urged Somalis abroad to return home to build the peace. "For those individuals who chose to oppose the creation of a representative and democratic government, presumably because they are no longer at center stage in Somalia, they need to come to terms with reality," Guelleh said. "With a government in place, the ball is in their court," he said in a speech on the opening day of the 55th U.N. General Assembly. "We can only hope they would make good use of the remaining opportunity for reconciliation and accommodation by placing the country first," Guelleh said. His comments came as Somali warlords continued to oppose the leadership of new President Abdulkassim Salat Hassan who was elected by a parliament-in-exile in Djibouti on August 25th as part of a process aimed at restoring law and order in Somalia. On Sunday, the warlords vowed to prevent the deployment of a new police force that Salat, who says his top priorities are to appoint a prime minister and disarm militias, has proposed to restore order to Mogadishu. The warlords - along with the leaders of two self-declared "autonomous" regions in Somalia, Puntland and Somaliland - have sworn to thwart the Djibouti-led peace process that led to Salat's election. Guelleh, who did not name those who he believes are opposed to Salat, said they would be making a mistake not to accept the "generous hand" that has been extended to Somalia. In addition, he urged Somalis living abroad to assist in the reconstruction of their country, which has been without a government since the 1991 overthrow of the late dictator Mohamed Siad Barre. "The rebirth of Somalia opens unlimited possibilities for Somalis everywhere to rebuild their country," Guelleh said. "With the expected return to normalcy in the country, the large diaspora abroad will have the necessary incentives to consider investing in their motherland, bringing in needed capital and experience that will create employment opportunities for the youth," he added. |
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