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Clinton to hold key Somalia talks Clinton to hold key Somalia talks
(about 1 hour later)
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is due to hold talks with Somali President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed in Kenya's capital, Nairobi.US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is due to hold talks with Somali President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed in Kenya's capital, Nairobi.
She is expected to confirm America's backing for Somalia's beleaguered transitional government.She is expected to confirm America's backing for Somalia's beleaguered transitional government.
Much of Somalia is in the hands of opposition forces, including the Islamist insurgent group al-Shabab. Somali Foreign Minister Muhammad Abdullahi Omar told the BBC the US was "seriously engaged" in helping bring stability and peace to his country.
More than 250,000 Somalis have fled their homes because of the fighting over the past three months. Large swathes of Somalia are out of the government's control.
With the the Islamist insurgent group al-Shabab growing in strength, more than 250,000 Somalis have fled their homes because of the fighting over the past three months.
Mrs Clinton will hold talks with the UN-backed Somali leader on the second day of her African tour.Mrs Clinton will hold talks with the UN-backed Somali leader on the second day of her African tour.
Wreath-layingWreath-laying
Before Thursday's meeting, she will honour the victims of the August 1998 attacks on the US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, in a wreath-laying ceremony in Nairobi.Before Thursday's meeting, she will honour the victims of the August 1998 attacks on the US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, in a wreath-laying ceremony in Nairobi.
It [al-Shabab] poses a threat to Kenya, poses a threat to the stability of Africa and beyond Hillary ClintonIt [al-Shabab] poses a threat to Kenya, poses a threat to the stability of Africa and beyond Hillary Clinton
President Ahmed needs all the support he can get, says the BBC's Will Ross in Nairobi. Pro-government forces are only in control of a small section of the capital Mogadishu.President Ahmed needs all the support he can get, says the BBC's Will Ross in Nairobi. Pro-government forces are only in control of a small section of the capital Mogadishu.
There are reports that al-Shabab - which favours strict Islamic law - is gaining support from extremists around the world, our correspondent says.There are reports that al-Shabab - which favours strict Islamic law - is gaining support from extremists around the world, our correspondent says.
Earlier this week, police in Australia arrested several men, charging them with planning suicide attacks on a base in Sydney and saying they were linked to al-Shabab.Earlier this week, police in Australia arrested several men, charging them with planning suicide attacks on a base in Sydney and saying they were linked to al-Shabab.
Our correspondent points out it is far too dangerous for the American secretary of state to venture into Somalia, as the fighting continues.Our correspondent points out it is far too dangerous for the American secretary of state to venture into Somalia, as the fighting continues.
Speaking on the sidelines of an economic summit on Wednesday, Mrs Clinton said: "We know we're facing a very difficult conflict, and we also know that the presence of al-Shabab and terrorist elements within Somalia poses a threat," reports Reuters news agency.Speaking on the sidelines of an economic summit on Wednesday, Mrs Clinton said: "We know we're facing a very difficult conflict, and we also know that the presence of al-Shabab and terrorist elements within Somalia poses a threat," reports Reuters news agency.
"It poses a threat to Kenya, poses a threat to the stability of Africa and beyond. So this is an area where we're going to work even more closely together.""It poses a threat to Kenya, poses a threat to the stability of Africa and beyond. So this is an area where we're going to work even more closely together."
Al-Shabab controls swathes of SomaliaAl-Shabab controls swathes of Somalia
Somalia's Foreign Minister, Muhammad Abdullahi Omar, told the BBC's Network Africa programme why US involvement in the region was so important. Somalia's foreign minister told the BBC's Network Africa programme that Washington's support for his government was a "golden opportunity".
He said: "The golden situation now is that the major global power in the world is today engaged... seriously engaged in helping the government of Somalia to establish stability and peace in the country."
The US admits it has supplied pro-government forces in Somalia with over 40 tonnes of weapons and ammunition this year, and another delivery of weapons is predicted, says our correspondent.The US admits it has supplied pro-government forces in Somalia with over 40 tonnes of weapons and ammunition this year, and another delivery of weapons is predicted, says our correspondent.
But there are growing fears that the Horn of Africa country - which has been without an effective central government since 1991 - risks becoming a haven for terrorists.But there are growing fears that the Horn of Africa country - which has been without an effective central government since 1991 - risks becoming a haven for terrorists.
'Enormous potential''Enormous potential'
On Wednesday, Mrs Clinton held talks in Nairobi with Kenya's president and prime minister.On Wednesday, Mrs Clinton held talks in Nairobi with Kenya's president and prime minister.
CLINTON'S AFRICAN TOUR KenyaSouth AfricaNigeriaAngolaLiberiaDemocratic Republic of CongoCape VerdeCLINTON'S AFRICAN TOUR KenyaSouth AfricaNigeriaAngolaLiberiaDemocratic Republic of CongoCape Verde
America's top diplomat described as "disappointing" Kenya's failure to investigate a bout of violence that left at least 1,300 people dead after the disputed December 2007 presidential election.America's top diplomat described as "disappointing" Kenya's failure to investigate a bout of violence that left at least 1,300 people dead after the disputed December 2007 presidential election.
Addressing African leaders at Wednesday's economic summit, Mrs Clinton said the continent had "enormous potential for progress".Addressing African leaders at Wednesday's economic summit, Mrs Clinton said the continent had "enormous potential for progress".
But she stressed that harnessing that potential would require democracy and good governance.But she stressed that harnessing that potential would require democracy and good governance.
During her 11-day trip Mrs Clinton will also visit South Africa, Nigeria, Angola, Liberia, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Cape Verde.During her 11-day trip Mrs Clinton will also visit South Africa, Nigeria, Angola, Liberia, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Cape Verde.