Somalis Herald Peace Agreement by Rival Factions

Thousands of war-weary Somalis thronged the streets of this capital Monday to celebrate a weekend peace agreement by the country’s main faction leaders aimed at ending years of bloody conflict.

The warlords of the main clans met at one of the city’s hotels, where they pledged to dismantle the physical and psychological barriers that have carved up the troubled Horn of Africa nation into a series of clan-ruled fiefdoms since 1991.

Ali Mahdi Mohamed, leader of a powerful faction based in north Mogadishu, joined hands with rivals Hussein Mohammed Aidid and Osman Hassan Ali Atto as they sang the national anthem.

Somalia has been without a central government since the overthrow of military dictator Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991, and tens of thousands of people have been killed as clan-based factions have vied for control of the country.

On Monday, thousands of Somalis mobbed the hotel where delegations from the leading factions were meeting.

Dozens of “technicals”--heavily armored cars converted from pickup trucks--patrolled the streets, but the atmosphere was largely peaceful.

Monday’s meeting followed an agreement Saturday by the clan leaders to reopen the capital’s port and airport and dismantle the line dividing the city.

The agreement allows for opposing militiamen to be disarmed and for a joint force to be deployed to ensure security in the capital.