London conf. to discuss future of Somalia Thursday

UK will host Thursday the London conference on Somalia in pursuit of putting a series of practical measures towards a new international approach to the crisis in the country. The conference reviewing the issues of threat from terrorism and piracy in the country, is expecting the attendance of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, along with Senior government figures from Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda, as well as from the US, Turkey, the UAE, Sweden, the African Union (AU) and the EU. More than 40 governments will be represented, in addition to the presence of other multi-lateral organizations including the World Bank, the Organisation of Islamic Conference, the Inter-Governmental Authority for Development, and the Arab League . Among the leaders joining discussions in the conference are US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, Ethiopian leader Meles Zenawi and Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan. Earlier on Wednesday, the UN Security Council approved a resolution increasing the number of (AU) troops in Somalia by 5,000 to more than 17,000. Council members also agreed to extra funding for the mission and to extend its mandate. British prime minister David Cameron told the UK Parliament on Wednesday that a more co-ordinated approach was needed by the international community to tackle the multiple challenges facing Somalia, (BBC) News reported. Somali Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali, among a number of senior government figures attending London Conference, has warned the country is at a "critical juncture" and needs more international help. "It is at a very critical juncture in its history," Ali said. "We are moving from an era of warlordism, terrorism, extremism and piracy and we are moving into an era of peace, stability and normalcy, he added. British Secretary for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs William Hague, who visited Somalia earlier this month, says he is "realistic" about what can be achieved in a single day but a more stable Somalia would benefit the region as well as the UK. Somalia has been facing political issues for years where fighting militant groups controlling parts of Soamlia are clashing with the forces loyal to the government. Meanwhile, Ethiopian and Somali troops took a strategic stronghold in the south-west of the country held by militant group al-Shabab that recently merged with al-Qaeda. Kenya has also sent troops into Somalia to tackle al-Shabab, blaming the group for a number of kidnappings on its territory last year.