Somali peace talks postponed

Attempts by Djibouti's President Ismail Omar Guelleh to bring Somalia's factions together for peace talks have failed to take off. The peace talks, which had been welcomed by the regional grouping IGAD and the OAU, aimed to establish a transitional government. A group of 60 Somali intellectuals, with the tacit backing of the international community, had recommended that the starting date of the conference - due to begin in Djibouti on Thursday - should be delayed for further consultations and preparation of an agenda, news organisations reported. Mogadishu-based faction leaders Hussein Aideed and Mohammed Afrah said this week they would boycott the talks and refused to respond to invitations received from the Djibouti president, the Mogadishu newspaper 'Xog-Ogaal' reported. The paper has also reported anti-Djibouti demonstrations in southern Mogadishu. According to a Somali analyst, disputes and resentments have arisen primarily over what status and treatment the various leaders will be afforded once in Djibouti. The Djibouti government has said it will continue trying to persuade the different factions to come together for talks.