CROWDS; BANNERS OF WELCOME, KING FAISAL AND PARTY GREETED BY PRESIDENT SHERMARKE AND OFFICIALS; GUARD OF HONOUR; VILLA SOMALIA - KING WITH MAYOR, OFFICIALS; PEOPLE DANCE IN STREETS AS KING DRIVES IN OPEN CAR; LIONS PRESENTED TO KING; WHITE HORSE PRESENTED KING AND OFFICIALS SEATED AT TABLE.




Initials IF/VS/BHH/MJB



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Background: THOUSANDS OF SOMALIA THRONGED MOGADISCIO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ON TUESDAY EVENING FOR THE ARRIVAL OF KING FAISAL OF SAUDI ARABIA. HIS MAJESTY SPENT FOUR DAYS IN SOMALIA BEFORE LEAVING FOR ROME ON SEPTEMBER 23RD.

KING FAISAL'S VISIT, AS WELL AS STRENGTHENING THE LINKS BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES, HAS BEEN RICH WITH THE PANOPLY OF A STATE OCCASION. HIS ARRIVAL, ACCOMPANIED BY A EIGHT-MAN DELEGATION, WAS GREETED BY A CROWD OF THOUSANDS, PRESIDENT ABDI RASHID ALI SHERMARKE LEADING THE WELCOME. A GUARD OF HONOUR OF THE NATIONAL ARMY NET THE PRIVATE PLANE BEFORE THE KING PROCEEDED TO MOGADISCIO TO RECEIVE A DELICATELY CARVED COLD-AND-IVORY KEY FROM THE MAYOR OF THE CITY.

THE KING BROUGHT A SERIOUS NOTE TO TUESDAY'S STATE BANQUET WHEN HE SPOKE OF THE MIDDLE EAST SITUATION. TALKING OF THE PALESTINE DISPUTE, HE SAID THAT IF THE UNITED NATIONS AVOIDED ITS RESPONSIBILITIES IN THE MIDDLE EAST 'IT WILL BE THE DUTY OF ALL MOSLEMS TO SOLVE THE ISRAEL PROBLEM IN THEIR OWN WAY'.

OFFICIAL TALKS BEGAN THE FOLLOWING DAY (WEDNESDAY), DEALING WITH POLITICAL, ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL MATTERS. ISLAMIC QUESTIONING WERE IN THE FOREFRONT OF INTEREST, THE CEMENTING OF TRADE AGREEMENTS, AND A SOMALIAN PROPOSAL FOR A MUSLIM SUMMIT.

AFTER THE TALKS, PAGEANTRY RESUMED CONTROL. THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC PRESENTED TO THE KING A GIFT OF THREE LION CUBS, A WHITE HORSE, AND SEVERAL ACRES OF LAND. IN RETURN THE SAUDI-ARABIAN KING HAS OFFERED TO FINANCE THE BUILDING OF A SCHOOL, A HOSPITAL OR A STATE FARM.