Friday July 07, 2006 (HOL): Yemen announced it plans to continue reconciliation efforts between the UICs and the interim federal government so that peace and security can be restored to Somalia.
Yemen’s news agency (SABA) broadcast that president Ali Abdala Salah contacted senior members from the interim federal government and the UICs to explain about his proposed plans and encourage them to end hostilities. It is reported that the two sides welcomed president Salah’s invitation to participate in the proposed meeting to be held in San’a, Yemen.
President Salah is also expected to visit Libya where he will hold talks with Libyan president Qadafi. The talks between the two leaders are expected to cover such issues as the Arab League, the Israeli invasion of Gaza, the current situations in Iraq, Somalia, and Sudan, as well as strengthening the political and economic ties between their nations.
President Salah will also visit Asmara, the capital of Eritrea where he will meet his counterpart Isaias Afworki to discuss the relationship between the two countries as well as issues of common concern for both nations such as the Red Sea and the Horn of Africa. President Salah’s will end his trip with a visit to Saudi Arabia.
Yemen was successful in the past in reconciling the president of Somalia’s interim government and the speaker of the parliament who were leading two rival factions within the interim federal government. The reconciliation allowed the two sides to agree the city of Baidoa as the interim capital of the government.
Original reporting by: Salaad Iidow Xasan (Xiis)
Translation by: Mohamed Amin
Source: HOL, July 7, 2006
