Somali peace conference postponed

[Eugene]

Source: BBC News

Last Updated: Sunday, 15 July 2007, 14:49 GMT 15:49 UK

Somali peace conference postponed

A national reconciliation conference in Somalia's capital,
Mogadishu has opened - and then immediately adjourned.

Organisers postponed the conference until Thursday to
allow more time for all the delegates to arrive.

Several mortar shells landed near the venue on Sunday,
injuring civilians, but President Abdullahi Yusuf said
violence would not deter the talks.

The main Islamist opposition have refused to attend,
saying the venue is not neutral.

Somalia has been without a functioning government
for 16 years.

-snip-

Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6899684.stm