(22 Apr 1998) English/Nat
One of Somalia's oldest political parties met in Mogadishu on Wednesday to issue a plea to the captors of eight Red Cross workers and two pilots to set them free.
Leaders of the Somali National Union, made up of various Somali factions, united in their condemnation of the kidnapping of the group by Abgal subclan gunmen on April 15.
Egypt sent its ambassador to the meeting amid concerns that the crisis will hinder the implementation of the Cairo-mediated peace agreement, signed in December by nearly all of Somalia's clans.
As negotiations continue in Somalia to win the release of the ten hostages who have been in captivity for more than a week, the country is suffering from the unwanted attention caused by the crisis.
Somalis are trying to go about their daily affairs, but the April 15 kidnapping of eight Red Cross workers and two pilots by gunmen from the Abgal subclan threaten to dampen hopes for their future.
Just months after a peace agreement was reached among all but two of the country's factions, hopes that the country can pull itself out of years of infighting, famine and anarchy are in danger.
One of the country's oldest political parties was due to celebrate its 55th anniversary on Wednesday in Mogadishu.
But the meeting of the 100 Somali National Union leaders was overshadowed by the hostage crisis and its implications for peace.
The group brings together various Somali tribes and factions, and even includes members of the Abgal subclan from which the kidnappers are based.
Elder members of Abgal, embarrassed about the crisis, have pledged to collect part of the 400-thousand dollar ransom demanded by the kidnappers to try to end the crisis.
Leaders said the crisis signalled a "sad day" for Somalia and sends a dangerous signal to future international aid efforts which might be wary of more threats.
Mohamed Rajis, Secretary General of the Somali National Union, said party members were united in their opposition to the kidnappings.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"There is consensus over their (the hostages') release, there is no difference of their release. There is consensus, there is no group which is objecting or who are objecting about their release. The only group objecting (to) their release is the seizers, the capturers."
SUPER CAPTION: Mohamed Rajis, Secretary General of the Somali National Union
S-N-U leaders fear the crisis will hurt the implementation of December's peace agreement signed between all but two of Somalia's warring factions.
Egyptian Ambassador to Somalia Mahmoud Moustafa was at the meeting to try to salvage hopes for the implementation of the Cairo-mediated peace efforts.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Regarding the problem of the hostages, I am very hopeful that this problem will be solved quickly in order not to jeopardise the peace process."
SUPER CAPTION: Mahmoud Moustafa, Egyptian Ambassador to Somalia
The International Red Cross has refused to comment on the kidnappings, but it has said it will not pay any ransom money to the kidnappers.
For now, Somalia's political leaders are trying to take the lead in freeing the hostages.
They hope to rescue their country from a crisis that has put it back in international headlines for all the wrong reasons.
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