August 28 2004 at 11:13AM
Addis Ababa - The recent swearing-in in Nairobi of Somalia's transitional federal parliament is a significant turning point for the Horn of Africa nation's reconciliation process, African Union (AU) Commission Chairman Alpha Oumar Konare said on Saturday.
"The swearing-in of 194 members of the transitional federal parliament of Somalia by IGAD (Inter Governmental Authority for Development) Ministerial Facilitation Committee last Sunday in Nairobi was yet another major step by the Somali leaders towards restoration of peace, security and stability in Somalia," he said.
"The swearing-in is indeed a significant turning point in the 22-month-old Somalia Reconciliation Process," Konare said in a statement.
He appealed to Somali leaders to remain united at the reconciliation conference to ensure a successful conclusion of the selection of the remaining 81 members of the transitional parliament, which is due this weekend.
After the 1991 toppling of Barre, Somalia plunged into anarchy and bloodletting, prompting botched military and humanitarian intervention by the United Nations and the United States from 1992 to 1995.
More than a dozen previous attempts have been made to negotiate an end to Somalia's anarchy and restore a functional government.
The current round of peace talks, which started in October 2002, is in its final phase, with delegates trying to forge a power-sharing deal among five major Somali clans before electing a transitional president. - Sapa-AFP