26 Sep 2009

Somalia's president says he is ready to sit down at the negotiating table with anti-government groups to end the violence in his war-torn country.

Sheikh Sharif Ahmed addressing the 64th session of the UN General Assembly on Friday said that his UN-backed government would continue political dialogue with all Somali parties and groups, including armed rebels.

He added that continued violence, infighting and insurgency have paralyzed the interim government's attempts to restore central rule while militants are controlling large parts of the country. He also emphasized that instability in the country has increased kidnappings and piracy.

The Somali president said it was difficult to eradicate piracy in waters off Somalia without first dealing with the security situation in the country.

"This means piracy will continue in one form or another as long as security in Somalia continues as is.”

Somalia is in dire need of urgent humanitarian aid from the international community for 3.76 million people including refugees, Ahmed added.

presstv