Mogadishu (Sunatimes) Two senior UN officials made a brief tour of the Somali capital, Mogadishu,yesterday and met with the country’s President.

B. Lynn Pascoe, the Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations for Political Affairs, and Ambassador Augustine Mahiga, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's Special Representative for Somalia, held talks for one hour with President Sheikh Ahmed Sheikh Shariff at Villa Somalia during which they discussed the security and humanitarian situation in the country.

Present during the talks was the AMISOM force commander, Major General Nathan Mugisha.

The two also visited the AMISOM-run hospital in the city and inspected facilities for UN staff which are being prepared in anticipation of the global body’s return to Mogadishu.

Before flying out, Mr Pascoe spoke to reporters briefly, describing the discussion with the President as "very good" and saying that he hoped that such talks would soon become a regular occurrence. He also spoke of the UN’s concern over the humanitarian situation in the country and said the UN was looking into ways to ease the people’s suffering, especially through drilling wells to provide access to safe drinking water.--

By Major Barigye Ba-Hoku

AMISOM Force Spokesman