December 05 2004 at 02:16PM
The African Union has welcomed the establishment of Somalia's transitional federal government by the interim Prime Minister Ali Mohammed Gheedi.
The AU hailed the announcement as "a crowning success" in a statement following the successful conclusion of the Somali National Reconciliation Conference.
The chairman of the AU Commission, Alpha Oumar Konare, said the transitional government came as the organisation was trying to help Somalia proceed with the transition.
"The unwavering commitment of the AU to assist the people and government of Somalia by all means possible to ensure the stabilisation and the reconstruction of Somalia," he said.
Gheedi announced 27 out of a total 31 ministers in his cabinet on Wednesday. - Sapa-dpa