Ethiopia's president has voiced optimism about the prospects for a power-sharing agreement in Somalia that could lead to long-term stability in the Horn of Africa. VOA's Peter Heinlein spoke with President Girma Wolde-Giorgis during the Ethiopian leader's visit to United Nations headquarters in New York.

Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf Amhed says he will hold a national reconciliation conference in the coming weeks to help the country return to peace.

The U.N. Security Council has authorized an African Union peacekeeping mission for Somalia. VOA's correspondent at the U.N. Peter Heinlein reports the world body could take control of the mission later this year.

Hospital authorities in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, say mortar and gunfire attacks have killed at least 12 people and wounded at least 45.

Many of the peace proposals for Somalia call for reconciliation between the transitional federal government, militia leaders and moderate members of the ousted Islamic Courts Union. But what happens if reconciliation fails to take place? That's a question being posed Somali expert Ken Menkhaus.

Uganda's parliament on Tuesday approved sending 1,500 peacekeepers to Somalia. Faced with a worsening security situation in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, the country's prime minister says a robust peacekeeping force is urgently to stabilize the country.

Witnesses in Somalia say at least three people have died and several have been wounded in mortar and grenade attacks in the capital city of Mogadishu.

The UN Security Council is expected to debate a resolution on Somalia early next week. Many humanitarian agencies are watching developments at the United Nations, because recent fighting and insecurity have restricted their operations in Somalia.

In Somalia, this week's election in parliament of a new interim speaker, who is a pro-Ethiopian former factional leader closely allied to President Abdullahi Yusuf, has deepened suspicion among supporters of the country's Islamist movement that Somali leaders are not serious about creating an inclusive government.

Somalia's president agreed Tuesday to a national reconciliation conference to try to end 16 years of fighting in the war-ravaged country. As Les Neuhaus in Addis Ababa reports for VOA, the announcement paves the way for the deployment of African peacekeepers.

A mortar attack and shootings are the latest violence to hit the Somali capital, which is struggling to regain stability after Ethiopian-backed government forces ousted Islamists who controlled the capital for much of last year. Cathy Majtenyi reports for VOA from Nairobi.

Ethiopia said its phased troop withdrawal from Somalia would not create a security vacuum as has been suggested by some. Bereket Simon, an advisor to Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, said Ethiopia has also achieved almost all of its goals for going into Somalia.