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| Africa Horn |
| UN envoy meets government officials in Mogadishu |
| 2007-05-12 |
| (SomaliNet) A high level delegation headed by the United Nation special representative to the general secretary Francois Lonseny Fall have on Friday reached the Somalia capital Mogadishu for supporting the peace process in the war-torn country. Mr. Fall who has received a warm welcome in Mogadishu met senior Somali government officials including President Abdulahi Yusuf and Prime Minister Ali Gedi at the presidential palace. Speaking to the reporters after the meeting, Mr Fall praised the government’s efforts of restoring peace and stability in the capital. “Now Mogadishu is calm and its peace is reliable one, I urge the transitional government to maintain its role of working out peace and security,” He said he had discussed with government officials over how the coming national reconciliation conference will be succeed and fruitful. “I appeal to all parties in Somalia to attend the conference in June that was announced by President Yusuf, I believe that the coming gathering is an opportunity for all Somalis to gain better future in the country,” said Fall. Mr. Fall also met with the chairman of the national body of the reconciliation conference Ali Mahdi Mohamed (former Somalia president). They both discussed over the reconciliation issues and how the UN will put pressure on deploying the other African Union peacekeeping forces in Somalia. It was for the first time that Mr. Fall arrived in Mogadishu since the Ethiopian forces defeated the Islamic Courts and ousted them out of the country late December last year. Meanwhile, Mr. Fall and his delegation are said to fly to the semi-autonomous region of Puntland in northeast Somalia to negotiate with the Puntland officials over the release of the two foreign aid workers worker who are hostage to freelance armed militiamen somewhere in Puntland state. |
| Posted by:Fred |