Talks move into Phase Two

Phase Two of the Somali peace talks underway in Eldoret, Kenya, is expected to begin on Tuesday, a source close to the talks told IRIN on Monday.

He said the nomination of members to the six technical committees which will work on core issues of the Somali conflict had been finalised. "We are busy registering the committee members today," he said. "The committees will then start their work tomorrow."

The committee phase of the talks has been held up by wrangling over the allocation of seats to the committees and to the plenary sessions of the talks.

The committees comprise federalism and a provisional federal charter; demobilisation, disarmament and reintegration; land and property rights; economic institution-building and resource mobilisation; regional and international relations; and conflict resolution and reconciliation.

They are due to produce recommendations on these fundamental issues identified by the peace conference.

At least seven experts in various fields have been seconded to the talks by donors and the World Bank to help the various committees "discharge their committee assignments", the source told IRIN. They include constitutional and economic experts.

He said more experts were expected to arrive within the next few days "so that all committees will have the necessary advice in the conduct of their deliberations".