War in Somalia "more likely than not" - minister

LONDON, Nov 1 (Reuters) Somalia no longer considers Islamists who control large parts of the country partners in peace and war is ''more likely than not'', the foreign minister told Reuters today.

Ismail Hurre Buba said he did not consider the peace process dead but added, ''What I am saying (is) the ICU (Islamic Courts Union) is not a partner in peace, it's not a partner in bringing it about.'' He said he believed the Islamists were using peace talks in Khartoum as a ''ploy to buy time'' and that war in Somalia was ''more likely than not''.

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