The United Nations Security Council on Monday kicked off its more than one-week African peace mission by holding talks with Somali transitional government and the opposition alliance, which were sharply differed on the conditions for launching a peace process in the war-torn country, news reaching Addis Ababa said.
The government delegation was headed by President Abdullahi Yusuf and Sheikh Sharif Ahmed led the delegation of the opposition Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia. They flew to neighboring Djibouti where the talks were held for fears that daily attacks in Somalia could make it too dangerous to meet there.
At a separate meeting with the United Nations Security Council delegation, Somali President Yusuf said he had hoped for a peace agreement with the opposition at the UN-sponsored talks.
The president, whose fragile government was backed by Ethiopian troops, also told the council delegation that Ethiopian forces would not leave Somalia until attacks by armed insurgents against his government stop and the United Nations deploys a peacekeeping mission in the country.
"I am willing to do whatever it takes to promote peace and stability in Somalia," the president said.
Somali Information Minister Ahmed Abdisalan told reporters after meeting with the council delegation that the government was seeking a deal to stop all hostilities and then start a dialogue on the peace in the country.
