Are There Al-qaida Militants In Somalia?

President of Somalia Abdikassim Salad Hassan has declared that there are no al-Qaida militants on his country's territory and that the Islamic Alliance terrorist group disintegrated long ago. That is why the president of Somalia believes there are no grounds for the USA to conduct military operations in the country. In an interview with the Saudi newspaper al-Sharq al-Awsat the head of Somalia pointed out that "the USA knows well that we have no camps for training terrorists, and I do not see any reason for delivering strikes at Somalia." He expressed hope that Washington will display wisdom and reason and will not resort to power methods with regard to Somalia. The president stressed that Somalians do not participate in terror activities in other countries, but Somalia itself is the object of terrorism supported from abroad. In this connection he accused Ethiopia of creating and supporting the council of reconciliation and revival which includes several field commanders and which is in opposition to the interim transitional government of Somalia.