Leaders' retreat rescheduled

A proposed retreat for Somali political leaders which has been postponed several times is now set to start in Nairobi on 9 January.

The retreat - which had originally been fixed for 9 December, then put back to 18 December - is expected to bring Somali leaders together to "iron out all outstanding differences, engage in dialogue and deepen reconciliation", said an official from the Inter-Governmental Authority for Development (IGAD), which is facilitating the talks.

"The retreat will convene on 9 January [in Nairobi] and then move to Mombasa on 10 January," the official, James Kiboi, said.

He added that the number of leaders to be invited had not yet been finalised, but a final list "will probably be out by next week". The invitation list has been a bone of contention, with some leaders arguing that the number should be limited to 24, while IGAD has said 42 leaders should attend.

Meanwhile, the spokesman of the self-declared autonomous region of Puntland, Awad Ahmad Ashara, who is also the region's justice and religious affairs minister, told IRIN there was "no need" for a retreat. He said it would not promote the peace process "but would lead to its collapse".

"I believe it is a ploy to destroy the peace process and then blame the Somalis for the failure," he added.

Kiboi, however, rejected this view, saying "this is a very wrong sentiment".

"The retreat is an opportunity to jump-start the process and move it from the current impasse," he stated.

The IGAD-sponsored talks which began in Kenya over a year ago, have been dogged by wrangles over issues such as an interim charter (draft constitution), the number of participants in the talks and the selection of future parliamentarians.

Many Somalis and international observers see the retreat as a last chance to salvage the peace process.