Quit threat at Somali peace talks

A powerful group of leaders at the Somalia peace talks has threatened to withdraw, accusing regional mediators of interference.

Peace talks being held in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, were due to be reaching their final stages.

But differences have emerged over how to set up the first recognised national government in Somalia for 13 years.

More than a dozen leaders say too many political factions have been given a say in the selection of parliament.

Under the proposed peace deal, agreed by rival warlords in January, clan leaders would select a parliament that would in turn elect a president to lead a transitional government. Elections would be held after five years.

Militia leader Hussein Aideed, a spokesman for the chiefs threatening to rebel, on Saturday accused mediators of trying to impose their will on the Somali people.

"The ownership of the peace process was taken away from the Somalis and the whole course of events is now driven by imposition of instructive statements," he told a news conference.

"If the situation is not rectified we are threatening to withdraw."

The Nairobi talks are the 14th attempt to reach a peace deal for Somalia, since the overthrow of President Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991 - and its descent into anarchy.