Somalia looks to end of transition

MOGADISHU, Somalia, Feb. 20 (UPI) -- A constitutional conference in Somalia is an important step to ending the government's transitional period, the U.N. secretary-general said.

Members of the Somali transitional government met with parliamentary leaders and representatives from the self-declared autonomous regions for a constitutional summit.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, in a statement issued through his spokesman's office, said a political agreement reached during the summit laid out the path for ending the transitional administrative period.

"The secretary-general applauds the spirit of unity and commitment demonstrated by the road map signatories as well as representatives from the areas recently recovered from al-Shabaab who participated," the statement read.

Somalia hasn't had a functioning central government since the 1990s. Al-Shabaab, an al-Qaida affiliate, controls parts of the country.

Somali authorities are implementing steps needed to end the interim administration's tenure by August.

London is the site of an international conference on Somalia starting Thursday. The British government claims the international policy toward Somalia isn't working.

"After 20 years of sliding backward, Somalia needs a step-change in effort -- both from the international community but also Somalia's political leaders," the government said.

Source: United Press International (UPI).
Link: http://www.upi.com/Top_News/Special/2012/02/20/Somalia-looks-to-end-of-transition/UPI-50781329755080/.