SOMALIA: Confusion at peace talksNAIROBI, 7 July 2003 (IRIN) - Delegates to the Somali peace talks, taking place in Kenya, signed what was termed an "historic" agreement on 5 July to set up a federal government, but confusion was created when some political groups denounced the agreement the following day.

The president of the Transitional National Government (TNG), Abdiqassim Salad Hassan, rejected the agreement, signed by his prime minister, Hasan Abshir Farah, at a press conference on Sunday. Abdiqassim said that it would divide the country and the TNG would "not be party to a process that is flawed and aimed at the dismemberment of Somalia".MORE

SOMALIA: Medical workers halt work in MogadishuNAIROBI, 7 July 2003 (IRIN) - Hundreds of medical workers in the capital, Mogadishu, held a one-day work stoppage on Sunday to protest against the killing of a prominent doctor in the city last week, one of the organizers told IRIN on Monday.

Dr Husayn Muhammad Nur, one of the best eye specialists in Mogadishu, and younger brother of faction leader Hasan Muhammad Nur Shatigadud, was gunned down in front of his clinic by unidentified gunmen on 3 July.

The work stoppage was called by the Somali Medical Association (SMA) and supported by all civil society organisations, including groups from the education sector, religious organisations and the business community, association member Dr Abdullahi Farah Aseyr said. MORE

Somaliland's fragile peace strained by rising joblessness
by Ali Musa Abdi
HARGEISA, Somalia, 6 July 2003 (AFP) - Three years ago, Ahmed Jama Ahmed returned from England purposely to trade in foreign currency in his native Somaliland.

But now he fears that widespread idleness may disrupt the fragile peace in the breakaway -- and internationally unrecognized -- republic and plunge it into another round of anarchy and bloodletting that had forced him into exile in Europe three years ago. MORE