Addis Ababa, 28 July 2007 - The Somali Prime Minister, Ali Mohamed Gedi calls upon the international community to support on-going efforts geared toward ensuring sustainable peace and stability in Somalia.

Briefing journalists here on Friday, Prime Minister Gedi said the international community should provide special support to the success of African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM) and to the deployment of AU peacekeeping mission in the region.

The deployment of the AU peacekeeping force in Somalia hugely contributes toward safeguarding the country and the region in general from terrorist acts and toward strengthening the Somalia’s defense force, he said.

Gedi said Somalia needs integrated regional and international anti-terrorist movement so as to bring about dependable peace and stability across the country.

According to premier, the national reconciliation conference that attracted over 1,500 clan representatives throughout the country is underway peacefully and successfully.

Gedi expressed his belief that the national reconciliation conference would be concluded peacefully and would contribute a lot in the democratization process and development endeavors in the years ahead.

Though the Ugandan military force of the African Union and the Ethiopian National Defense force are doing well in Somalia at present, additional AU peacekeeping force is needed to ensure sustainable peace and stability in the country, he said.

Gedi said he held discussions and reached at common understanding with French Minster of Affairs Bernard Kouchner on ways as to how the French government would contribute in efforts toward deploying AU peacekeeping force in Somalia.

Source: ENA