Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Sheikh Aweys defended Dr. Iman's leadership, saying: "No one can take authority away from Sheikh Omar Iman, because the group [Hizbul Islam] appointed him as chairman."
Sheikh Aweys suggested that Indho Ade and his allies "should have formed a new group instead," while accusing Indho Ade of "attempting to destroy" Hizbul
"Indho Ade played a good role in the [Islamic Courts] war against the [Mogadishu] warlords, but he has made it normal to destroy every group he is part of," said Sheikh Aweys, in his first public comments chastising Indho Ade, a fellow clansman.
According to Aweys, Indho Ade "raised" Al Shabaab while he was the warlord of Lower Shabelle region but later distanced himself from Al Shabaab.
Somalia's various Islamist factions were once under the banner of the Islamic Courts Union, which was led by Sheikh Aweys as legislative head and Sheikh Sharif Ahmed as executive chief.
In January, Sheikh Sharif was elected the interim President of Somalia at the conclusion of UN-backed peace talks in Djibouti.
Sheikh Aweys said he "welcomes" mediation between him and former ally Sheikh Sharif, but warned that their differences were "not personal, but based on principles."
Source: Garowe Online
