Qatar To Fund Talks on Somalia

Arab League Assistant Secretary General for Arab Affairs Ahmed Ben Hali has confirmed that Qatar is willing to cover costs of holding the Somali reconciliation conference in Boossaso, Somalia to be held in November.

Ben Hali said yesterday that Qatar's ambassador to Egypt and delegate to the Arab League, Mana Abdul Hadi Al-Hajiri, has informed Arab League Secretary General Dr. Esmat Abdul Meguid that Qatar had allocated funds to be given to the Arab League's Somalia Support Fund to cover costs of holding the national reconciliation conference.

Ben Hali said Abdul Meguid held a preparatory meeting with some Somali factions and that contacts were being made with Hussein Aideed's faction and Ali Mahdi's faction to prepare for the conference.