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Britain's Minister for Africa Henry Bellingham visited Mogadishu on Tuesday (March 27th), reiterating the United Kingdom's on-going support for Somalia, Somalia's Garowe Online reported.

Bellingham met with UN envoy to Somalia Augustine Mahiga, African Union Mission in Somalia Commander Major General Fred Mugisha, Mogadishu Mayor Mohamed Ahmed Nur and other senior Somali officials.

"It is absolutely crucial that we see progress on the constitutional process, particularly the National Constituent Assembly, so that the transition [from the Transitional Federal Government] can end in August," Bellingham said. "I urge all Roadmap signatories to work with civil society and traditional leaders to ensure that the assembly is as representative as possible."

Also on Tuesday, the European Union called on Somalia to end the transitional government on time and deliver its mandate to set up the next government, AFP reported. "We should make sure that there is a clearly discernible, demonstrable new political system that is emerging," said Alexander Rondos, EU Special Representative for Somalia.