U S leaves open dealing with Somali Islamists

WASHINGTON, June 7 (Reuters) - The United States may be open to dealing with Islamic militia who took over Somalia's capital this week, possibly signaling a new approach to the lawless Horn of Africa country that Washington worries could become a base for terrorists.

State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said today.

the Bush administration would ''reserve judgment'' about the group loyal to Sharia courts which seized Mogadishu from a self-styled coalition of anti-terrorism warlords widely believed to get backing from Washington.

''I think that as a matter of principle that we would look forward to working with groups or individuals who have an interest in a better, more peaceful, more stable, secure Somalia ... who are also interested in fighting terrorism,'' said McCormack when asked if Washington would deal with the Islamic militia.

This week Sheikh Sharif Ahmed, chairman of the Islamic Courts Union, wrote to the United States and others to allay concern that Somalia would become a safe haven for terrorists.

''We categorically deny and reject any accusation that we are harboring any terrorists or supporters of terrorism in the areas where the courts operate,'' said the letter.

McCormack said there were a ''number of different voices'' within the Islamic group that sent the letter and some of them were trying to restore order in Mogadishu and lay the groundwork for institutions in a country that has not had an effective central government since 1991.

REUTERS SK VC0025