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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. "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." |
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