From: Yemane Natnael (yemane_natnael@yahoo.com)
Date: Tue Sep 23 2008 - 12:41:23 EDT
Somali peace talks in Djibouti end without agreement
2008-09-22
MOGADISHU, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- The talks in
Djibouti between the two joint committees from the Somali transitional
government and the opposition to finalize the peace agreement between
the two sides ended without a deal, reports from Djibouti said Monday.
In a joint news conference, the
Somali Prime Minister Nur Hassan Hussein and Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed,
the leader of the opposition Alliance for the Reliberation of Somalia
(ARS) said that they will meet again in a month's time after further
consultations among each side.
"We have made much progress in our
talks so far and we reached a lot of consensus on many issues but we
will meet in a month's time to finalize the talks," the Somali Premier
told reporters in Djibouti where the two sides have been meeting since
Sept. 12.
The two sides have signed a
tentative agreement last June in which they agreed to cease hostilities
and request a UN force to replace the Ethiopian troops backing Somali
government.
In August the two sides also signed
a communiqué in which they reaffirmed their commitment to the talks and
agreed to cease fire within thirty days.
The talks between the two joint
committees on security and political matters deadlocked over the
withdrawal of Ethiopian troops from Somalia.
The Somali government wanted the
troops to leave residential areas in cities while the opposition
demanded that they withdraw from cities and towns in the south for a
start before they fully withdraw in a hundred and twenty days.
Sheik Ahmed, leader of the
opposition said in that the two sides will have to deliberate the
issues among themselves and comeback to the talks in a later date
"better ready".
A joint Security Committee to
follow up the implementation of security arrangements and a High Level
Committee to follow up on political cooperation between the two sides,
were formed in accordance with the initial Djibouti agreement.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-09/22/content_10092101.htm
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