The International Union of Muslim Scholars, headed by Shaykh Dr Yusuf al-Qaradawi, has called on the Somali people and all their factions and groups to stand behind their elected President Shaykh Sharif Shaykh Ahmad, who is known for his composure, intellect, good manners, and loyalty towards his religion and nation.

The union has said that "we congratulate him for defeating and forcing the occupation forces out of Somalia, praying to Almighty God to grant him success, show him the right path to improve his country, and send him loyal assistants."

In a statement they issued in Doha, the union has called on the Somalis to free themselves from the tribal fanaticism which has divided them, and urged them to support each other, forget the past with all its tragedies, and look forward for the better future for which they stage demonstrations, united under the banner of Islam and Koran.

The statement has called on the Mujahidin Youth Movement to cooperate with the new leadership and said "we call on our brother Shaykh Hasan Zahir Uways, head of the Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia - Asmara Wing, to cooperate with the new leadership, congratulate his brother and comrade Shaykh Sharif Shaykh Ahmad as a president, help him in the cause of righteousness and piety, establish security and peace in the country and spare it the effect of any more civil wars which only result in death and destruction, and discuss all points of disagreements."

The union has expressed in its statement that it is ready to sponsor any brotherly and serious dialogue between Shaykh Sharif and the opposing factions in the nearest possible time and in any place of their choice. The union has declared that it is ready to send a high-level delegation from the executive office and trusteeship council to carry out this mission.

The union has called on the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Conference, as well as all of the Arab and Islamic countries, to strongly support Somalia and the new leadership, and provide it with anything that would promote its stability and help it establish a contemporary Islamic society that pursues progression, prosperity, civilization and dedicates all of its time for achieving reform, construction, human and financial development, and mobilizes all powers to construct Somalia on a strong foundation taking into consideration the Islamic principles and the spirit of the age.

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