To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the impact of recent civilian protest in Mogadishu on the stability of the Transitional Federal Government.

We have noted that several civilian protests have taken place in Somalia, and particularly in Mogadishu, primarily against the presence of Ethiopian troops inside Somalia. We believe that the Transitional Federal Government's (TFG) proposed National Reconciliation Congress offers the best chance to bring peace and stability to Somalia and help the TFG win the support of the Somali people. Our officials in the region have urged the TFG to ensure that they include all parts of Somali society in the congress. My noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Lord Triesman of Tottenham, made the same point to President Yusuf of Somalia during his official visit to the UK from 20-23 February.