New Somali reconciliation initiative

An official source at the Yemeni Foreign Ministry announced a new Yemeni initiative for achieving reconciliation in Somalia.

The agreement had been recently agreed upon between the Yemeni government and chairman of the Somali National Coalition Hussein Aideed during his visit to the Yemeni capital last week.

A Voice of America radio correspondent quoted the Yemeni source as saying that the initiative is based on three main points: convening a general conference for all warring Somali factions, setting up central police with the participation of all sides, and inviting the Arab League (AL) to adopt the project and provide support and financing for the process of redeploying the central military police unit from the AL fund.

The source went on to explain that in light of the agreement reached during the negotiations held between Aideed and Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh and Foreign Minister Abdul Qader Bajmal, the national reconciliation conference for all warring Somali factions will be held within the few coming days to reach a final formula for the agreement.