STORY: SOMALIA - HAGUE/NEW BRITISH EMBASSY TRT: 01:17 SOURCE: AU/UN IST RESTRICTIONS: This media asset is free

for editorial broadcast, print, online and radio use. It is not to be sold on and is restricted for other purposes. All enquiries to news@auunist.org CREDIT REQUIRED: AU/UN IST LANGUAGE: ENGLISH/NATS DATELINE: April 25, 2013 SHOTLIST 1. Wide shot of plane taxiing on runway 2. Wide shot of British Foreign Secretary William Hague and delegation disembarking from aircraft, greeting Somali officials 3. Wide shot of Hague and AMISOM Force Commander Lt. General Andrew Gutti walking and chatting 4. Closeup shot of Hague and Gutti chatting 5. Medium pan of British Embassy sign to Hague and Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud 6. SOUNDBITE (English) William Hague, British Foreign Secretary, We are the first western country to reopen our embassy here 22 years after our previous embassy was evacuated, and the flag taken down and this symbolises for us our confidence that Somalia will overcome its problems with international support, it also of course enables us to increase our practical cooperation. 7. Wide shot of British flag being raised at embassy as Hague, Mohamud and officials watch 8. Medium shot of Hague, Mohamud and officials clapping 9. Wide shot of Hague, Mohamud and officials leaving STORY: British Foreign Secretary William Hague visited the Somali capital Mogadishu today (April 25, 2013) to witness the opening of a new British embassy in Somalia. The UK government had just appointed the first British Ambassador to Somalia in many years, an event officials say is a strong sign of the improving situation in the Horn of Africa country. Since Hagues last visit in early 2012, Somalias National Security Forces, bolstered by troops serving with the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) have pushed the al Qaeda affiliated al Shabaab militants from much of south-central Somalia.

After discussions with AMISOM Force Commander Lt. General Andrew Gutti, Hague and Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, presided over a flag-raising ceremony to open the UKs first embassy in Somalia since 1991. We are the first western country to reopen our embassy here 22 years after our previous embassy was evacuated, and the flag taken down and this symbolises for us our confidence that Somalia will overcome its problems with international support, it also of course enables us to increase our practical cooperation, Hague said. Mohamud and Hague will be co-hosting a Somalia Conference in London on May 7 which aims to attract and streamline international support for Somalias recovery efforts ENDS