Somalia famine donor conference in Africa delayed

[August 03, 2011]  ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP) -- An official with the African Union says a donor conference to raise money for Somalia famine victims has been postponed for at least two weeks.

A conference had been scheduled for next Tuesday to bring together African leaders and international organizations to address the drought crisis.

But Erastus Mwencha, a senior policy adviser at the Ethiopia-based African Union, said Wednesday that next week's conference was not scheduled with enough advance notice. Mwencha said it would be delayed at least two weeks so heads of state can attend.

The Horn of Africa is suffering a devastating drought that has been compounded by conflict in Somalia, bad governance and spiraling food prices.

[Associated Press]

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