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US supports
Djibouti agreement
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ADDIS
ABEBA(August 23 - 24,2008) -
The United States welcomed the implementation phase of a
process begun by the Transitional Federal Government and the Alliance
for the Re-liberation of Somalia to promote peace and stability in
Somalia.
"The August 18 signing of the Djibouti Agreement by representatives
of these two groups officially starts this crucial phase. We thank
the government of Djibouti for hosting these important talks, and
the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary General
for his leadership in facilitating them," Robert Wood, Acting
Deputy Spokesman at the US Department of State said yesterday.
According to the official, US was represented at a senior level at
the talks to demonstrate support for the process.
"The United States reaffirms its support for rapid deployment
of a United Nations peacekeeping mission in Somalia, and calls on
all Somalis who seek peace and stability to support implementation
of the Djibouti Agreement," Wood added.
President Abdullahi Yusuf's interim administration signed the peace
agreement on Monday at U.N.-led talks in Djibouti.
The deal, which was first initialled in June, calls for the rapid
deployment of U.N. peacekeepers to halt the bloodshed.
The deal has been rejected by opposition hardliners, and the U.N.
Security Council has been reluctant to commit U.N. forces.
The African Union also said on Thursday a pact between Somalia's government
and some opposition figures was a very significant step.
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