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Delegates Boycott Somalia Peace Talks

The East African Standard (Nairobi)
NEWS
February 17, 2003
Posted to the web February 17, 2003

By Standard Correspondents
Nairobi
The troubled Somalia peace and reconciliation process got off to a bad start in
Nairobi today when delegates from the Transitional National Government (TNG)
boycotted the opening session at the KCCT College citing "confusion".
The TNG, a major stake-holder in the process accused the Igad secretariat of
failing to enforce the terms of a cease-fire agreement signed by warring
Somalia groups last year.
The group addressed a press conference and said lack of adherence to the
agreement "is likely to reduce the talks into a shadow boxing affair". They
accused a member state "for colluding with other stake-holders to hijack and
slow down the peace process."
And the talks were further dogged by bad luck when the Prime Minister of
Somalia and leader of TNG Dr Hassan Abshir sustained injuries in an accident
near Limuru. He was hospitalised at the Aga Khan Hospital in Nairobi on Sunday
night with a broken arm and chest injuries. His entourage was involved in an
accident while relocating to Nairobi for the talks.

   

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