THE SOMALI PRIME MINISTER, MOHAMMED IBRAHIM EGAL, ARRIVED IN ADDIS ABABA YESTERDAY (SUNDAY) AT THE HEAD OF A NINE-MAN DELEGATION FOR AN OFFICIAL VISIT TO THE ETHIOPIAN GOVERNMENT.

HE WAS MET AT ADDIS ABABA AIRPORT BY THE ETHIOPIAN PRIME MINISTER, AKLILU HABTE WOLD, THE FOREIGN MINISTER, KETENA YIFRU, AND THE INTERIOR MINISTER, OIFLE YIRGETU.

THE TWO PRIME MINISTERS TOOK THE SALUTE OF A GUARD OF HONOUR WHILE THE SOMALI NATIONAL ANTHEM WAS PLAYED. AFTER INSPECTING THE GUARD MR EGAL AND HIS DELEGATION DROVE TO ADDIS ABABA FOR A MEETING WITH EMPEROR HAILE SELASSIE AT THE JUBILEE PALACE.

THIS IS THE SOMALI PRIME MINISTER'S FIRST OFFICIAL VISIT TO ETHIOPIA SINCE HE TOOK OFFICE, AND IT IS THE HIGHEST LEVEL SOMALI DELEGATION TO VISIT ETHIOPIA SINCE THE TWO COUNTRIES BEGAN THEIR BILATERAL TALKS LAST YEAR AIMED AT BETTERING RELATIONS BETWEEN THE TWO NATIONS.

MR EGAL'S VISIT IS PART OF A CONTINUING SERIES BETWEEN OFFICIALS OF THE TWO NATIONS WHICH MAY CULMINATE IN A SUMMIT MEETING OF EMPEROR HAILE SELASSIE AND PRESIDENT SHERMARKE.

MR EGAL TOLD REPORTERS HE HOPED HIS PRESENT VISIT MIGHT FINALISE MOST MATTERS ALREADY DISCUSSED IN PREVIOUS CONFERENCES.