US Assistant Sec Frazer meets Ethiopian PM Meles, Ethiopian FM received by Mubarak

(4 Jan 2007)
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
1. Jendayi Frazer, assistant U.S. secretary of state for Africa, enters room, shakes hands with Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi
2. Cutaway of Ethiopian official
3. Various of Frazer and Meles sitting down
Sharm el-Sheik, Egypt
4. Wide shot of building
5. Mid shot of building
6. Ethiopian foreign minister Seyoum Mesfin (moustache) sitting next to Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak (holding papers)
7. Close up of Mubarak
8. Various of Mesfin and Mubarak sitting with officials
9. SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Suliman Awad, Egyptian presidential spokesman:
"President Mubarak has emphasised that Egypt cares for the stability of Somalia as an essential part of the Horn of Africa which is a strategic and sensitive region. The president is looking forward to seeing Somalia, an Arab and African country, enjoying security as soon as possible. President Mubarak emphasised that Egypt supports a dialogue between the Somali peoples under three parties which includes the African Union, Arab league, and IGAD (Inter-governmental Authority on Development). He also emphasised that Egypt supports diplomats for peacekeeping African forces in Somalia as an implementation of the African Union's decision last September which also was backed by decision number 1725 of the Security Council."
10. Reporters
STORYLINE:
The top U.S. diplomat to Africa met with African leaders in Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa on Thursday, for discussions on how to help Somalia's struggling government establish itself after 15 years of anarchy and the defeat of a militant Islamic group known as the Islamic courts.
Jendayi Frazer, assistant U.S. secretary of state for Africa, met Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, whose forces intervened in Somalia to protect the internationally recognised government and rout the rival Islamic movement which had seized power in parts of southern Somalia and the capital.
Now Meles wants to withdraw his troops, and he and other leaders say an African peacekeeping force is needed to
replace them as soon as possible.
Frazer said the Somali government also needs to open an inclusive dialogue on the political future of the country.
Meles has said he wants to withdraw his troops within a few weeks and if the international community doesn't intervene quickly, clan warlords could reassert themselves and the country could collapse again into chaos.
Frazer was expected to meet with officials at the African Union and Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni later on
Thursday.
Museveni has offered 1,000 troops, but Ugandan officials say they need help paying for the operation and a clear exit strategy.
As part of the diplomatic offensive Ethiopia's foreign minister Seyoum Mesfin, also met Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak in Cairo.
"President Mubarak emphasised that Egypt supports a dialogue between the Somali peoples under three parties which includes the African Union, Arab league, and IGAD (Inter-governmental Authority on Development),"
Mubarak's spokesman said.
Somalia's transitional government is the latest chance to bring an end to the anarchy that has destroyed the nation
of 8 (m) million.
The last effective government collapsed in 1991, when clan militias overthrew dictator Mohamed Siad Barre and then turned on each other.
Diplomats have been working hard to find ways to help the government reestablish its authority.

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