Britain to to host Somalia conference

Tuesday's meeting - which Mr Cameron will co-host with Somalia's President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud - follows similar conferences in London and the Turkish city of Istanbul last year, amid growing international concern that Somalia has turned into a haven for al-Qaeda-linked militants.

The conference will address an issue that was until recently completely taboo in Somalia - rape, especially of women living in camps for displaced people, our correspondent says.

Somali aid worker Halima Ali Adan told the BBC the decision to tackle the issue at the conference was a big step forward.

"Sexual violence is something that was not ever spoken about in Somalia," she said.

"The international community themselves have seen the importance of this issue to be addressed as soon as possible because it is actually overwhelming."

Delegates from more than 50 countries and organisations are expected to attend the meeting.

On Monday, Qatar said Sunday's suicide attack in Mogadishu had targeted its officials, Qatar's official QNA news agency reported.

The four officials were travelling in armoured vehicles belonging to the Somali government when the convoy was attacked, it said.

None of the Qatari nationals were injured, QNA reported.

However, 10 other people were wounded in the attack, according to a BBC correspondent in Mogadishu.
BBC