The African Union (AU) Tuesday called upon the Somali leaders to demonstrate increased commitmentto enable the early and successful conclusion of the Somalia National Reconciliation Conference.

The AU's Peace and Security Council stressed the fact in a statement in Nairobi, that Africa and the international community at large would not understand that the ongoing efforts to reach aninclusive solution in Somalia be yet thwarted by the lack of cooperation of some leaders and factions.

The AU welcomes the decision of the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development Facilitation Committee to proceed to third phase of the reconciliation conference and to convene a ministerial meeting this week, according to the statement.

The AU requests all members of the Facilitation Committee to participate in that meeting at the appropriate ministerial level.

Meanwhile, the AU urges the international community to continueto provide financial resources needed to ensure the early and successful conclusion of the Reconciliation Conference.

Somalia dissolved into chaos in January 1991 after clan-based political leaders ousted the then president Siad Barre.

The transitional government, set up in 2000, controls only partof the capital Mogadishu and other pockets of territory around thecountry.

Since September 2002, faction leaders have begun the Somali National Reconciliation Conference in Kenya.

Source: Xinhua