AlQa'dah 22, 1435, Sep 17, 2014, SPA -- A senior U.N. official on Wednesday welcomed the opening of the Kismayo reconciliation conference in the southern Somali port town as a step toward strengthening the country and consolidating peace in the region. "I urge participants to create an environment that allows the conference to develop resolutions that are inclusive of all stakeholders—particularly women, youth, and elders, regardless of social or economic status," the U.N. deputy envoy for Somalia, Fatiha Serour, said in a statement. Opening the conference Tuesday, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud called for parties to continue to join the peace process.
