Somalia peace talks to begin soon
Xamar Radio
Talks between Somali government officials and exiled opposition leaders are likely to begin in one or two days, a UN spokeswoman says. The negotiations, bent on bringing together seven Somalia officials and seven opposition figures in Djibouti, were slated to kick off Saturday, Susannah Price, an information officer at the UN Office for Somalia said. The talks are expected to last a week.

Price also noted that some delegates have arrived late in Djibouti and the UN's special envoy for Somalia, Ahmed Ould Abdallah, has separately held talks with them.

Meanwhile, Ould Abdallah said, "I'm more than hopeful that the Somalis here in Djibouti are committed to peace and reconciliation for the sake of Somalia."

Somalia has been without an effective central government since President Siad Barre was overthrown in 1991.

Years of infighting and inability to deal with famine and disease have led to the deaths of thousands of people.