Somalia calls for international help5 Dec 5, 2009 - 1:44:04 PM Somalia

’s president Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed has called on international community and neighbouring to assist in preventing the powerful insurgents from taking over the war-torn Somalia.

Sharif said his embattled government is unable to thwart any attacks targeted on top government officials, stressing that Thursday’s suicide attack in Mogadishu’s Shamo hotel is just tip of the iceberg for the extremists who are determined to topple his government.

“We are asking the world powers and neighbouring countries to intervene and stop extremists from taking over Somalia,” said the president who was speaking at the funeral of three slain ministers.

He warned that if the world fails to intervene, then the country will be used by Al-Qeada to carry out its global operations.

On the other hand, Somali Prime Minster Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke said the security situation in his war-torn country is worst than Afghanistan, calling on the world to shift its focus to Somalia.

“Somalia is worst than Afghanistan, so we are telling the world to help us to restore stability in the country,” he told reporters.

It is the first time for the fragile UN-backed Somai government to announce that it has failed to curb the insecurity in the war-torn country, which is most of its south and central regions is controlled by the insurgent groups.

Meanwhile, Somali government and the moderate Islamist Ahul-Sunnah Wla-Jamaa group have signed a pre-agreement truce that will help bring together the two groups.

According to Abdi Haji Gobdon, who is the Somali PM’s media advisor, some of the agreed elements include the implementation of Islamic rule across the war-torn country and teamwork to curb the insecurity.

A meeting to harmonise the pact is scheduled to take place within this month in the country.

The pro-government Islamic group, which control large swathes of central and southern region, has been involved in arm struggle against the main opposition armed groups that are determined to topple the fragile government.