U.S. says UN, AU invited to observe Somalia meeting

The United Nations and the African Union have been invited to become observers of an international meeting on Somalia, the United States said on Tuesday.

"I have confirmed that the United Nations and African Union have been invited to participate as observers in that meeting," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said at a briefing.

The United States, Britain, Norway, Sweden, Italy, Tanzania and the European Union are expected to attend the meeting to be held in New York on June 15, McCormack said.

McCormack said on Monday that the meeting is expected to discuss "how the international community might coordinate their policies, might bring together their political, diplomatic and perhaps other resources to try to help support the transitional federal institutions in Somalia."

There has been no effective central government in Somalia since 1991 because of internal conflicts.

Source: Xinhua