Exiled Somali PM visits home
2005-02-24 13:30
Nairobi - Somalia's exiled Prime Minister Mohammed Ali Gedi
made his first visit back to his homeland since assuming the post
last year, visiting a town north of the country's lawless capital
of Mogadishu on Thursday, officials said.
Gedi and a delegation from his Kenya-based transitional
government travelled to Jowhar on the opening leg of a five-day
fact-finding trip to Somalia, which will also include stops in at
least three other towns, they said.
Yusuf Baribari, a spokesperson for the government, confirmed that
Gedi was in Jowhar and said the prime minister and his team would
travel to the towns of Beletuuein, Baidoa, and Galkayo as part of
the tour.
Officials said Gedi would not be visiting Mogadishu on the
current trip because of security concerns.
Gedi's departure from Nairobi had been planned for Wednesday but
was delayed due to logistical reasons and no rescheduled date for
the trip was announced in advance.