This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/feb/02/william-hague-begins-somlia-visit

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
William Hague begins Somalia visit William Hague begins Somalia visit
(40 minutes later)
William Hague has called for a stepping up of the fight against Somali-based terrorism as he became the first British foreign secretary to visit the country for 20 years.William Hague has called for a stepping up of the fight against Somali-based terrorism as he became the first British foreign secretary to visit the country for 20 years.
His arrival in the capital Mogadishu amid tight security marked the start of a big diplomatic push to bring stability to a country he described as "the world's most failed state".His arrival in the capital Mogadishu amid tight security marked the start of a big diplomatic push to bring stability to a country he described as "the world's most failed state".
Hague said recent gains by the 10,000-strong African Union force (Amisom) in the country had driven back the radical Islamist group al-Shabaab from the capital.Hague said recent gains by the 10,000-strong African Union force (Amisom) in the country had driven back the radical Islamist group al-Shabaab from the capital.
But with much of the south of the country still controlled by the organisation, which has links to al-Qaida, he said there must be no let-up in the pressure.But with much of the south of the country still controlled by the organisation, which has links to al-Qaida, he said there must be no let-up in the pressure.
"We need to step this up. We are not complacent about it," he said."We need to step this up. We are not complacent about it," he said.
Britain is hosting a conference on Somalia in London later this month, attended by representatives of 50 countries in international organisations. Ministers believe the success of the Amisom offensive last August in driving al-Shabaab from Mogadishu has opened up a window of opportunity.Britain is hosting a conference on Somalia in London later this month, attended by representatives of 50 countries in international organisations. Ministers believe the success of the Amisom offensive last August in driving al-Shabaab from Mogadishu has opened up a window of opportunity.
Hague promised that counter-terrorism would be high on the agenda as well as tackling piracy and Somalia's deep humanitarian problems.Hague promised that counter-terrorism would be high on the agenda as well as tackling piracy and Somalia's deep humanitarian problems.
"For the security of the UK, it matters a lot for Somalia to become a more stable place," he said. "For the security of the UK, it matters a lot for Somalia to become a more stable place," he said. "Some progress has been made on this, partly because of the progress of the Amisom force.
"Some progress has been made on this, partly because of the progress of the Amisom force.
"One of the objectives of our conference in London is to strengthen counter-terrorism co-operation to make it easier for countries in this region to disrupt terrorist networks, to disrupt their financing and the movement of potential terrorists.""One of the objectives of our conference in London is to strengthen counter-terrorism co-operation to make it easier for countries in this region to disrupt terrorist networks, to disrupt their financing and the movement of potential terrorists."