President Abdiqassim in Kenya for talks

Somali interim President Abdiqassim Salad Hassan arrived in Kenya on Wednesday for a one-day official visit. On arrival, the president flew immediately to Nakuru, 150 kms north of Nairobi, where he was met at the airport by Kenyan President Daniel arap Moi. It is the first time in over 10 years that a Somali head of state has paid an official visit to Kenya, Somali political sources said. His delegation included Foreign Minister Isma’il Mahmud Hurre Buba, Regional Cooperation Minister Hasan Farah Hujale, Political Adviser Umar Hashi Adan, and other senior officials. The two presidents discussed regional issues and the reconciliation process in Somalia, Abdirahman Dinari, the director of information for the interim government, told IRIN. Abdiqassim asked Moi to participate in the reconciliation process in Somalia “in his role as the region’s elder statesman”, Dinari said. The interim president also thanked Moi for hosting large numbers of Somali refugees, and for his efforts towards bringing about peace and reconciliation in Somalia. Moi assured Abdiqassim of his support for the reconciliation process, Dinari said. The Somali president and his delegation left for Somalia on Thursday morning, after being hosted in the evening by the Saudi Arabian Ambassador to Kenya.