Egypt's, Eritrea's leaders meet on Somalia crisis

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
The Egyptian and Eritrean presidents emphasized Tuesday the need to stabilize war-torn Somalia and the entire Horn of Africa region. Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's spokesman told journalists following the talks with Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki, "We are working toward achieving calm in order to avert further deterioration in Somalia." "This should prevent the war lords from returning and clear the way for African Union peace keeping forces be sent (to Somalia)," said Suleiman Awad, the Egyptian spokesman after the leaders met in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm e-Sheik. Awad said Egypt is also in contacts with other parties to try to resolve the conflict in Somalia. "This will provide the chance and create the climate for the Ethiopian troops to withdraw," he said.