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Talks to end Somalia fighting
03/04/2007 18:53 - (SA)
Cairo - Arab, African, European and US diplomats began talks in the Egyptian capital on Tuesday in a bid to see how they can help Somalia's transitional government restore law and order in the Horn of Africa nation.
The talks, which are expected to last one day, are being held in the Arab League's headquarters in Cairo, according to Alaa Rushdy, a spokesperson for the pan-Arab group.
The talks are part of efforts by the International Contact Group on Somalia to try and get the warring parties there to end the fighting.
Mogadishu, the Somali capital, remained calm for a second day on Tuesday after the city's worst bout of violence in 15 years left about 400 people dead.
"The most important issue on the table is the security in the country," said Ismael Hurreh, Somali foreign minister.
Amr Moussa, the league's secretary-general, said the contact group would try to find ways to beef up the cease-fire reached in Mogadishu on Monday, speed up the deployment of more African Union peacekeepers and disarm militias.
'Humanitarian crisis'
He said the league was prepared to offer $1m to help with the integration of militiamen into Somalia's armed forces.
Moussa also warned of a humanitarian crisis in Somalia, calling for emergency supplies to be sent there and for reconstruction work to start in the war-ravaged nation.
Somalia, a member of the Arab League, has been mired in chaos since 1991, when warlords overthrew dictator Mohamed Siad Barre and then turned against each other.
A national government was established in 2004, but has failed to assert any real control.
Raymond Johansen, Norway's deputy foreign minister, said the Cairo talks also will attempt to secure the withdrawal of Ethiopian troops and allowing AU peacekeepers to take charge of security in the entire country.
Johansen, who is taking part in the Cairo talks, told Egypt's Middle East News Agency the next step would be to convene a reconciliation conference bringing together the country's warring parties, including the Council of Islamic Courts.
'An Islmaic emirate'
The council's militants were driven from power in December by Somali and Ethiopian soldiers, accompanied by US special forces.
The US has accused the courts of having ties to al-Qaeda.
The militants have long rejected any secular government and have sworn to fight until Somalia becomes an Islamic emirate.
Johansen said: "The Council of Islamic Courts is made up of various groups, some of which are on lists of terrorists and will not be part of this dialogue.
"There are others who are moderates and will be allowed take part."
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