MANY WESTERN governments have kept a close eye on recent developments in Somalia. But for those who have had their attention diverted with the middle East conflict, it may please or displease readers to know that the former secular / American backed government has recently been taken over by Muslims intent on bringing forward a country with a more Shariah compliant system.

However, many of the western media have been extremely critical and accused these Muslims of being extreme hardliners intent on practicing Islam in a way the Taliban did in Afghanistan. This is totally untrue and serves only to reinforce non-Muslims’ perspective of Islam as being radical.

To all the sceptics out there, believe it or not, since the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) seized control of Mogadishu on 5 June 2006, life in Mogadishu is getting better, and business people are optimistic. There are far fewer check-points, where gunmen used to extort money from passing motorists and commercial vehicles.

As a result food prices have dropped. One kilogramme of rice used to cost 9,500 Somali shillings (40 pence) but the price is now 3,500 shillings.

The defeat of the warlords has also brought relief to those who were recruited to fight with them. "My family was the gunmen, my bed was on the battle-wagons and the narcotic leaves, khat, was my favourite thing," says Salad Ga'al, a teenage boy who served six years in the militia. "Now, thank God, I am with my family and giving up all my bad habits and I have to create a new life and go to school for my future."

If you go around the city and ask people about the changes in Mogadishu, many would first tell you about how things are more secure, however fragile the security may seem. Car drivers tell you they have no fear of robbery because there is no shelter for the perpetrators under the rule of Islamic courts.

One of the UIC's leaders, Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, say it is not possible to enforce such Islamic punishments now but he says Shariah should become Somalia's law in the future.

The biggest worry is the weapons which are still in the hands of clanbased militia and ordinary Somalis. Many Somalis and the transitional government would prefer the deployment of foreign troops in the country to disarm the militia, because the government is weak and no clan militia wants to hand their weapons to another clan.

The regional body, Igad, has promised to send troops, but the Islamic courts strongly oppose such a deployment and have called for war against foreign troops. But further fighting is the last thing most Somalis want - they want to be left alone to get on with the business of earning enough money to feed their families.