afrol News, 13 March - The UN Secretary General's Special Representative to Somalia has lauded the scheduled dialogue involving the government and opposition.

Somalia has been without a proper functioning government since the overthrow of the former dictator Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991. The country has been the epicentre of Islamist insurgency, resulting to several killings and displacement of a million people. An estimated three million others flee country.

But Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah said he was moved by the confirmation Somali leaders - President Abdullahi Yusuf, Prime Minister Nur Hassan Hussein and Sheikh Hassan Madobe - to open talks with opposition on stability.

“Their brothers in the opposition, civil society organizations and the diaspora have repeatedly expressed to me the same desire to join the discussion for peace and reconciliation,” Mr. Ould-Abdallah said in a press release.

“I have no doubt that all Somalis and their concerned friends, governments and organizations will support this move and that everyone would refrain from any action that might hinder these important steps.”

Upon request by both parties, the UN envoy expressed readiness to be involved in the timing of future dialogues.

Last month, Prime Minister Hussein disclosed his government's preparedness to engage armed opposition groups to talks to restore law and order.

"From now on we are planning to elaborate a strategy of conciliation that will be all-inclusive," Somali Premier said. Hussein has rejected a proposal by an exiled Somali opposition Islamist, Sheikh Sharif Ahmed that the withdrawal of Ethiopian troops should become a precondition for talks.

Mr Ahmed's Islamic Courts Union had ruled most parts of Somalia, including the capital Mogadishu for six months before being ousted by the Ethiopian forces backing the transitional government of Mr Yusuf.

Somali Islamists took control of the capital Mogadishu for six months.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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