Italy invites Somali representatives

The Italian government has invited representatives from Somalia's Transitional National Government (TNG), and the self-declared state of Somaliland, northwest Somalia, and the self-declared autonomous region of Puntland, northeast Somalia to Rome as part of efforts to facilitate a dialogue among the main players. Diplomatic sources told IRIN that Italy had played a prominent role in the peace process as the chairman of the Partners of the regional body, Inter-governmental Authority on Development (IGAD). Puntland leader Colonel Abdullahi Yusuf had arrived in Rome and presented the new Puntland constitution and plans for elections, the source said. The Italian government hopes to facilitate a dialogue between the main political players in Somalia in order to advance the process of national reconciliation, diplomatic sources told IRIN. Since the TNG established itself in Mogadishu in October last year there have been no direct talks between the TNG and the administrations in Somaliland and Puntland.