Al Jazeera
UPDATED ON:
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
10:01 Mecca time, 07:01 GMT

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Somalia's government has signed a deal with a militia group to bring it on side before an expected military offensive against armed groups fighting to topple the administration.

Ahlu Sunna Waljamaca (ASWJ), which is made up of moderate Sufi Muslims, reached an agreement in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa on Monday to work together to battle al-Shabab and Hizbul Islam fighters.

Al-Shabab and Hizbul Islam have been fighting the western-backed transitional government since 2007.

They control much of southern and central Somalia, while government troops control a few blocks of the capital, Mogadishu.

ASWJ's spiritual leader, Sheikh Mahmoud Sheikh Hassan, said the groups would need financial support from the international community to integrate their administrative, leadership and military structures and fight al-Shabab and Hizbul Islam.

"This is not a fight or struggle against people but against an ideology," he said at the ceremony.

"The meaning of this agreement is to save the people of Somalia and the reputation of the Islamic faith." …

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