US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton met Somali officials Saturday to discuss this month's planned transition to a fully-fledged government, during a visit to Kenya to promote democracy and electoral transparency in the region, dpa reported. Clinton met Somali President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed and other signatories to the troubled country's transition roadmap, weeks ahead of a United Nations deadline of August 20 for Somalia to draft a constitution and elect a parliament and president. She congratulated the Somalis on progress they had made on the constitution, while also highlighting the Horn of Africa country's massive developmental and security challenges and promising future US support. Kenyan government spokesman Alfred Matua blamed the country's security problems on Somalia and urged the US and other donors to meet financial commitments they had made. "If we fix the problem then we don't have to keep on treating the symptoms," he told dpa by phone. Earlier Saturday, Clinton called for Kenya's next elections to avoid a repeat of the 2007 presidential ballot, when inter-ethnic bloodshed claimed more than 1,000 lives, urging Kenyan officials to make next year's vote a peaceful one. "The United States has pledged to assist the government of Kenya in ensuring that the upcoming elections are free, fair and transparent," she told reporters in Nairobi. "We urge that the nation come together and prepare for elections which will be a real model for the entire world." The top US diplomat met President Mwai Kibaki, Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Chief Justice Willy Mutunga, as well as election officials. Matua said that the administration welcomed Clinton's calls for a smooth electoral process, but stressed, "It's not just about democracy but about putting bread on people's tables." Clinton's two-day visit to Kenya ends with her planned departure for Malawi on Sunday, before finishing her 11-day African tour in South Africa. She has already visited Uganda, Senegal and the world's newest country, South Sudan.
