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An ambitious
conference aiming to bring peace to Somalia after a decade
of turmoil opened in the neighboring Red Sea state of Djibouti
Tuesday.
Djibouti's
President Ismail Omar Guelleh officially opened the talks,
which aim to curb the power of Somalia's warlords and were
attended by around 300 traditional and community leaders from
around the country.
``The
ball is now in your own court,'' Ismail Omar told delegates.
``All the eyes of the world are directed at you.''
Somalia
has been without a government since former dictator Mohamed
Siad Barre was overthrown in 1991 and the power vacuum was
filled by clan-based militia leaders fighting to expand their
personal fiefdoms.
Since
then, the warlords have signed numerous peace deals but all
have failed either because some factions were excluded from
the start or because the signatories resumed fighting almost
as soon as the ink had dried.
Most
of the warlords stayed away from the latest talks, although
powerful clan leader Ali Mahdi Mohamed, who controls the northern
half of the capital Mogadishu, attended as a delegate.
The first
task is to nominate a list of technicians, intellectuals and
politicians from around the country who will then draw up
the framework of an interim administration for Somalia.
There
was a stir of excitement in the conference hall when around
30 traditional leaders arrived from the autonomous region
of Puntland, whose politicians oppose the Djibouti talks.
There
were also a handful of delegates from the breakaway region
of Somaliland, which has declared its independence from Somalia.
Although
neither northern region is recognized internationally, both
have had some success in restoring peace and attracting foreign
aid.
The leaders
of both regions oppose the talks, arguing that they might
provide a stage for domestic opponents and would include calls
for their reintegration with southern Somalia.
The talks
are taking place in the hillside resort of Arta, around 25
miles south of Djibouti city and are expected to last for
several weeks.
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