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UN mission to study African wars UN envoys lead Somali peace talks
(about 5 hours later)
The UN Security Council is on a mission to Africa to look at the continent's wars and see how they might be ended. The UN Security Council is having its first discussions with Somalia's government and its opponents, at the start of an Africa tour.
The mission is due to have its first discussions with Somalia's government and its opponents, then go to Sudan and several other countries at war. The diplomats are also due to go to Sudan and other countries at war.
It has decided it is too dangerous to hold its Somali talks on Somali soil - they will be held in Djibouti instead. It has decided it is too dangerous to hold its Somali talks on Somali soil - so they are in Djibouti instead.
The Security Council is also hoping to broker the first official direct talks between the Somalis. The Security Council is also hoping to broker the first official direct talks between the Somali rivals although the most hardline militia is not present.
BBC World Affairs correspondent Mark Doyle, who is travelling with the mission, says there is less optimism about the situation in Sudan.BBC World Affairs correspondent Mark Doyle, who is travelling with the mission, says there is less optimism about the situation in Sudan.
The mass displacement of civilians in the country's troubled western province of Darfur is still unresolved, and the peace agreement between the north and south of the country is in the midst of new tensions.The mass displacement of civilians in the country's troubled western province of Darfur is still unresolved, and the peace agreement between the north and south of the country is in the midst of new tensions.
The mission will also visit the Democratic Republic of Congo, where millions of people have been displaced by fighting in the east of the country.The mission will also visit the Democratic Republic of Congo, where millions of people have been displaced by fighting in the east of the country.
Desperate need Plane attacked
The Security Council is due to hold separate meetings in Djibouti with the Somali government and the opposition, and has held out the possible prospect of the first official, face to face, talks between the two. The Security Council is holding separate meetings in Djibouti with the Somali government and the opposition, and has held out the possible prospect of the first official, face to face, talks between the two.
But in a sign of Somalia's instability, the plane taking President Abdullahi Yusuf to Djibouti was delayed by a mortar attack on the airport.But in a sign of Somalia's instability, the plane taking President Abdullahi Yusuf to Djibouti was delayed by a mortar attack on the airport.
The plane was not hit but there are unconfirmed reports of two minor injuries in the attack blamed on Islamist insurgents.The plane was not hit but there are unconfirmed reports of two minor injuries in the attack blamed on Islamist insurgents.
The talks are being boycotted by the hardline al-Shabab militia, blamed for many of the attacks on government troops and their Ethiopian supporters.
They refuse to hold talks until the Ethiopian troops leave the country.
But Mr Yusuf says there would be a security vacuum if the Ethiopians withdrew before being replaced by UN peacekeepers.
A small contingent of African Union troops is in Mogadishu but has done little to quell the violence.
Window
Our correspondent says Somalia is the ultimate failed state - the capital Mogadishu is destroyed by war and an estimated half of the city's population has fled.Our correspondent says Somalia is the ultimate failed state - the capital Mogadishu is destroyed by war and an estimated half of the city's population has fled.
The UN says almost two million Somalis are in desperate need of outside assistance.The UN says almost two million Somalis are in desperate need of outside assistance.
An Islamist insurgency there has been mounting almost daily attacks on the weak government which is backed by the United States because Washington believes the Islamists are associated with al-Qaeda.An Islamist insurgency there has been mounting almost daily attacks on the weak government which is backed by the United States because Washington believes the Islamists are associated with al-Qaeda.
Some experts on this part of Africa say the strong US backing of one side, rather than emphasising the importance of talks between the factions, has exacerbated the situation.Some experts on this part of Africa say the strong US backing of one side, rather than emphasising the importance of talks between the factions, has exacerbated the situation.
Nevertheless, UN diplomats believe that the recent appointment of a new prime minister in Somalia, Nur Adde, who has said he will negotiate with anybody, provides a rare window of opportunity for a peace initiative.Nevertheless, UN diplomats believe that the recent appointment of a new prime minister in Somalia, Nur Adde, who has said he will negotiate with anybody, provides a rare window of opportunity for a peace initiative.