In a deal backed by the United Nations, a moderate leader of the Islamic Courts Union, Sheikh Sharif Ahmed, was elected president of the Mogadishu-based Somali government earlier this year.

VOA: standard.2009.09.16

Somalia's new president,Sheikh Sharif Ahmed, a moderate Islamist and a former insurgent leader, is attempting to establish government control in the country and to gain the support of Islamist insurgents.

VOA: standard.2009.03.16

Other than Mr.Museveni and Zambia's President Banda, the only other African Union member state presidents to sign the IDP convention were Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe, Mohammed Abdelaziz of the territory of Western Sahara,and Somalia's Sheikh Sharif Ahmed.

VOA: standard.2009.10.23

Aides of Somalia's embattled president, Sharif Ahmed, say there may be over 2, 000 of them.

ECONOMIST: None of Somalia��s neighbours is keen to ride to its rescue

Maalim was the father-in-law of former Somali President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed, according to the United Nations.

CNN: STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Somalia's president, Sharif Ahmed, the leader of the Islamic Courts Union, is today seen as a moderate.

WSJ: Somali Extremists Have al Qaeda Ties