Abukar Omar Adan Changes Sides, Supports the Somali Government

Sun 9 Sep 2007, 15:39 GMT

DJIBOUTI, Sept 9 (Reuters) - A Somali businessman who financed the ousted Islamic Courts said on Sunday he had cut ties with the group after meeting Somali Prime Minister Ali Mohamed Gedi.

Gedi had flown to Djibouti to ask businessman Abukar Omar Adan to use his influence to encourage armed remnants of the movement to accept a government amnesty.

"I am not anymore with the Islamic Courts," Adan told reporters after meeting Gedi amid tight security at a Djibouti hotel. He did not elaborate.

Gedi's interim government is struggling to impose its authority on the Horn of Africa nation, which has been in chaos since warlords overthrew dictator Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991.

Adan surrendered to the authorities in neighbouring Kenya after Somali government troops backed by Ethiopian tanks and warplanes routed the Islamists from Mogadishu over the New Year.

Adan admitted being in Kenya illegally, but in February an immigration case against him was dropped without explanation.

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