AMERICAN TAKES DAD'S POST AS SOMALI WARLORD.

Byline: Hrvoje Hranjski Associated Press 

Hussein Mohamed Aidid doesn't look exactly at home in Villa Somalia, the official residence of Somali leaders for the past 36 years.

Shy, rocking back and forth in his chair, the clean-cut, former Marine looks more like an American college student than the leader of Somalia's most powerful faction.

But since last Sunday, the 34-year-old son of Gen. Mohamed Farrah Aidid, who died recently from wounds received in a recent battle, has a new, unexpected job. He's been named president of the Republic of Somalia by his father's followers.

The post is hotly contested by his father's archrival - Ali Mahdi Mohamed.

``Professionally, I think as an American,'' Aidid, a naturalized U.S. citizen, said Tuesday at the heavily guarded south Mogadishu residence during his first interview as faction leader and president. ``But I feel like a Somali.''

At least 20 advisers, colleagues and friends of his father crowded into the room, hanging onto their new leader's words.

Appearing somewhat uncomfortable but still trying to show he was in charge, Aidid turned several times to his father's foreign minister and longtime aide, Jama Mohamed Ghalib, to ask for help.

Ghalib, who is believed to exercise strong influence over the younger Aidid, listened intently, intervening several times.

In Somali society, Aidid's young age would generally be considered a disadvantage for a leader. He doesn't think it is.

``There are many people from my age group who are stepping in,'' he said.

The younger Aidid first came to public attention when he was serving as a Somali-English interpreter in December 1992 as part of a U.S. Marine contingent that spearheaded Operation Restore Hope.

The U.S.-led United Nations mission was intended to safeguard the distribution of food to Somalis who had been cut off from supplies by the late 1980s clan war that ultimately destroyed the modern Somali state.

Aidid was known then as Cpl. Hussen Farrah and was not immediately associated with Gen. Aidid, the staunchest Somali foe of international intervention.

Cpl. Farrah served only from Dec. 18, 1992, to Jan. 5, 1993, in Somalia before returning to the United States, where he had lived since 1976 with his mother, who had divorced the senior Aidid.

After receiving a university degree in civil engineering, Aidid decided to enlist in the U.S. Marine Corps reserves in 1987. He was assigned to Battery B, 14th Marine Regiment in Pico Rivera.

``I always wanted to be a Marine. You know how it is watching Marine soldiers,'' he said in soft, Somali-accented English. ``I'm proud of my background and military discipline. Once a Marine, always a Marine.''

But even while wearing the Marine uniform and with his U.S. passport in hand, Aidid said he never forgot the importance of clan and family in Somalia. He returned to Mogadishu last year with his Somali wife and small son.

``We Somalis always stick together,'' he said, sitting beneath an official photo of his father and framed verses from the Koran, the Muslim holy book.

In mid-1993, the senior Aidid's factional fighters ambushed 24 Pakistani peacekeepers and the United Nations slapped a $25,000 price on his head. From then on, the father was evil personified in the United States and at the United Nations. Eighteen American troops were killed trying to capture him.

His son tried to explain how it happened.

``Foreign involvement in Somalia is our biggest problem,'' he said. ``The U.N. came to bring food to the Somali people, but instead interfered in our culture and religion. UNOSOM was involved, and it had to go.''

UNOSOM was the acronym for the frustrated U.N. peacekeeping mission in Somalia that finally pulled out in March 1995.

``That interference still exists today,'' Aidid asserted, though he did not elaborate. But as long as they stick to their mission, he said, ``the U.N. and international aid agencies are welcome back in Somalia.''

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Photo

Photo: Hussein Mohamed Aidid

Feels like a Somali