Somalia Reconciliation Talks Collapse

Talks to reconcile the Somali interim government with its Eritrea-based Islamist rivals have broken down without a significant outcome. The UN-sponsored talks, which began on May 12 in Djibouti , ended last week with a low key agreement by both sides to allow more humanitarian access to Somalia. The Islamists are said to stuck to their vehement opposition to the continued presence of Ethiopian troops in Somalia. [P.E]