The government made the charge this week in a letter to international organisations in which it complained that Arab League mediators were favouring the Islamists who were now in control of much of southern and central Somalia.
In the October 02 letter, Somali Prime Minister Ali Mohamed Gedi suggested that the alleged bias might crater a planned third round of peace talks due to begin in Sudan on October 30.
He wrote: "It is regrettable that in the process of the preparation for the third round of talks in Khartoum at the end of the month, the secretariat general of the League of Arab States is not neutral in managing the affairs of Somalia."
Peace and stability
Gedi said: "Rather it is bent on supporting the Islamic courts union as evidence shows", noting the silence of the Arab League and others on the Islamists' seizure of the key port of Kismayo and other towns last week.
He said: "Such conduct will undermine the common efforts that all are displaying for the sake of promoting peace and stability in Somalia and will contribute to the erosion of the confidence that the transitional federal government places in the role of the Arab League."
Government spokesperson Abdirahman Mohamed Nur Dinari confirmed that Gedi had sent the letter, which was addressed to the United Nations, African Union, Arab League, European Union and other groupings.
Dinari also claimed that Arab League officials had been making secret contacts with Islamist officials without informing the government despite agreements reached at the last round of talks for all parties to be involved.
Govt 'remains committed to peace'
He said: "This is an indication that the league of Arab nations is unfair and it is biased towards the Sharia courts.
"We warn the international community that it will pay a heavy price in the future if it fails to stop or even condemn the violations and aggression by the Islamists." Dinari also emphasised that the government remained committed to peace.
However, a senior government said that the administration would likely boycott the talks unless the Islamists were pressed to halt their advances.
The official said: "How can we even think of sending delegates to Khartoum while they have continued their aggression, which violates the ceasefire and has even made clear its intention of ruling Somalia."
At the last round of talks in Khartoum on September 05, the government and the Islamists signed an interim peace accord that called for the eventual formation of unified security forces, building on an earlier truce.
Source: AFP, Oct. 5, 2006