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

Kenya says to lift Somalia flight ban from July 8
NAIROBI, July 5 (Reuters) - Kenya said on Saturday it would lift an anti-terror ban on flights to and from Somalia that has drawn criticism from aid agencies, saying it was satisfied security had improved.

Kenya, which has seen several major attacks blamed on Muslim militants in recent years, imposed the ban on June 21, saying it feared people planning new strikes could board flights from neighbouring Somalia.MORE

Somali leaders agree on transitional govt, parliament NAIROBI, 5 July 2003 (AFP) - Somali leaders attending a peace conference in Nairobi on Saturday agreed to establish a federal government which will rule the Horn of Africa country for the next four years.

"We have agreed to form a transitional federal government and a transitional parliament of 351 members during the four-year period," Ahmed Awad Ashra, justice minister in northeast Somalia's state of Puntland, said after emerging from the session. MORE

SOMALIA: Faction leaders' cooperation on landmines praised
NAIROBI, 1 July 2003 (IRIN) - Somalia's faction leaders have shown encouraging support to the international community's efforts to curb the use of landmines, and to clear out mines which have been buried for years throughout the country, a Swiss-based international humanitarian organisation has said.

Lare Okungu, the Africa regional director of Geneva Call which is dedicated to landmine action, said several Somali factions had cooperated with landmine initiatives and some had even sought assistance for mine clearance in regions under their control.

"The goodwill we have seen so far is paving the way forward," Okungu told a meeting in Nairobi aimed at reviewing a landmine accord signed last November. MORE

Emirates Post opens window to Somalia money transfer
By Sunita Menon, Staff Reporter
DUBAI, 1 July 2003 (Gulf News)--Somalis in the UAE will now be able to transfer money legally. This has been made possible under a cooperation signed by Emirates Post and Somal Post.

Prior to the cooperation, the popular mode of money transfer used by Somalis was hawala. As for delivery of mail to and from the country, it was at the mercy of international voluntary organisations in Somalia.

It was news all around the world when the Somalian money transfer company Al Barakat was closed by the FBI. MORE