Somali peace talks suffer setback

www.chinaview.cn 2004-07-14 21:08:00

BEIJING, July 14 (Xinhuanet) -- The ongoing Somali peace and reconciliation talks in Nairobi have suffered a major setback following the withdrawal of two major clans.

The leaders from the Southern Somalia National Movement or SSNM, who are from the Dir clan, and traditional leaders from the Hawiye clan, accused the organizers of the conference, the Inter Governmental Authority on Development Facilitation Committee or IFC, of interference in the apportionment of clan-based parliamentary seats. CRIENGLISH.com reported Wednesday.

However, Kenyan special envoy for peace in Somalia Bethwel Kiplagat says the IFC are currently removing all bottlenecks in the distribution of seats among clans and addressing the selection of MPs in a bid to bring the talks to a successful completion.

He explains that the selection of MPs will be followed by the election of a president, which will lead to the formation of a government in Somalia.

(CRIENGLISH.com)