UNDP intends to recruit an expert for 2 months to support the development of a plan for the library at the University of Hargeisa, with a particular emphasis on the law section.

A UN-appointed independent expert on human rights for Somalia has said the more attention given to human rights at the Somali peace talks in Kenya, the greater the scope for peace. Dr Ghanim Alnajjar arrived in the region this week on an 11-day mission. It is his third visit since his appointment by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan in June 2001, according to a press statement from the UN Resident & Humanitarian Coordinator’s Office for Somalia.

Kenyans are smuggling rare cactus plants from Somalia to Western countries where they are used to make body lotions. The Lusaka Agreement Task Force Chief Intelligence Officer, Mr Clement Mwale, said they are investigating the poachers whom he said are sophisticated operators.

A suspended operation to repatriate Somali refugees from Kenya to the self-declared autonomous region of Puntland, northeastern Somalia, resumed at the weekend, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) said. In a statement, it said the repatriation restarted on 19 July after a two-month suspension caused by lack of funds for the flights to Somalia.

"People are here to pursue their own interests. In fact, one would say that Somalia is up for grabs," says a delegate to the Somali peace talks being held in Mbaghati, Kenya. The delegate is from Somaliland, the renegade region whose "head of State" has snubbed the Nairobi talks.

Somali human rights defenders in all areas must be given a central role in the difficult struggle ahead for sustained peace, democracy and human rights, Amnesty International has urged, as the Somalia peace and reconciliation conference in Kenya moves, within the next month, to establish a transitional federal government by selecting a four-year parliament which will elect the president. Somaliland is proceeding separately to its own parliamentary elections after the recent presidential elections.

In the past, Somali women have not had a significant role in politics, but there are now signs that the trend is slowly changing. Although they only make up a small minority at the peace talks currently underway in Kenya - with 35 women out of 362 official delegates - this tiny step is seen as progress.

Mogadishu-based faction leader Muse Sudi Yalahow rejected a peace agreement signed earlier this month by delegates to the peace talks in Nairobi, saying it was "flawed".

When Asha Ahmed Abdalla was a teenager in her native country of Somalia, she used to daydream about what it would be like to be Somalia’s first lady, and decided to set her sights on achieving that goal. But Abdalla grew up and her dream evolved. After years of humanitarian and political activity, the 45-year-old mother of three has set her eyes on the ultimate prize: to become Africa’s first woman president.

Reporters sans frontières (RSF) has called for the release of two radio journalists, Abdurahman Mohamed Hudeyfi and Hussein Mohamed Gheedi, who have been held by the Mogadishu police since 30 June 2003.

Delegates to the Somali peace talks, taking place in Kenya, signed what was termed an "historic" agreement on 5 July to set up a federal government, but confusion was created when some political groups denounced the agreement the following day.

Karti News is released every two weeks and contains the latest news and information about Somalia, Somaliland and the Horn of Africa. The newsletter has sections on the peace process taking place in Kenya, human rights, health and education, women and gender and civil society. Karti News forms part of a project whose overall objectives is the achievement of permanent respect for human rights, justice through rule of law, pluralism, good governance and sustainable peace in Somalia and Somaliland. To subscribe, send an e-mail to editor@somali-civilsociety.org with only the word 'subscribe' in the subject or body of the message.

Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of the Somali capital, Mogadishu, on Sunday to protest against continuing violence and abductions in the city, according to one of the organisers.

The Project Coordinator will be involved in the following: Assisting in the recruitment and hiring of project staff including local experts and consultants; Supervision of all project staff; and Book provision activities.

The Somali peace talks, currently underway in Kenya, are in danger of collapse if a compromise solution is not found to the selection and number of future parliamentarians, a faction leader warned on Wednesday.

Somali women have been longing for a government that will guarantee them security and a sense of belonging. But their hopes were thwarted this week, when it emerged that Somali peace negotiators in neighbouring Kenya have failed to reach a consensus on a new government.

The London-based rights group Amnesty International has called on delegates attending Somali peace talks in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, to choose leaders who will protect the human rights of all Somalis.

Somalia's first medical college in 12 years officially opened in the capital, Mogadishu, on 15 June. The Benadir University Medical College (BUMC) is to be funded by donations from Somali physicians and an annual fee of US $1,500 per student, its rector, Dr Usman Adan Abdulle, told IRIN.

The main opposition party in the self-declared republic of Somaliland, northwestern Somalia, says it now recognises the legitimacy of disputed April elections. The Kulmiye party's presidential candidate, Ahmad Muhammad Silanyo, told IRIN on Wednesday that "after the intervention of elders and others, we have decided as a party to accept the results".

Fighting broke out again on Tuesday in the Medina district of Mogadishu, according to local sources in the Somali capital.