Text of report by Somaliland newspaper `Jamhuuriya' on 8th January

Uthman Hasan Ali [Ato], one of the Mogadishu faction leaders engaged in efforts to bring about reconciliation in the city, has said that the Djibouti peace initiative will not resolve the Somali political deadlock. Giving an exclusive interview to `Jamhuuriya' this week, the faction leader said their [faction leaders'] efforts were more tailored to bringing about reconciliation. He also pointed out that the Djibouti president's proposals seeking greater involvement of cultural leaders would not succeed in bringing about peace.

Various Mogadishu clans have been organizing meetings and electing new leaders, apparently in response to Omar Gelleh, the Djibouti president's, peace initiative. Ato describes these leaders as nobodies.

Speaking on the Djibouti peace proposals and the subsequent clan efforts, Ato said: "Neither the planned Djibouti reconciliation conference nor the continuing meetings by cultural leaders can solve the Somali political problem, because the problem facing the country was a result of civil war. Naturally, a civil war needs a genuine solution."

Source: `Jamhuuriya', Hargeisa, in Somali 8 Jan 00 p