SOMALIA: John Kerry Pays Unannounced Visit To Somalia

The US Secretary of State John Kerry has arrived in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, on an unannounced visit.

He is the first American Secretary of State to visit the city, which is recovering after years of conflict.

Mr Kerry is meeting Somalia's President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud for private talks.

The US backs the Somali government in its fight against Islamist militant group al-Shabab, which still controls many rural parts of southern Somalia.

Mr Kerry is meeting President Mohamud under tight security at Mogadishu airport.

BBC Somalia analyst Mary Harper says the US plays a crucial if controversial role in Somalia, supporting the weak central government in its fight against al-Shabab.

Al-Shabab leaders have been killed in US drone strikes.

Our correspondent points out that America is careful to take a less visible role than it did in the 1990s, when the bodies of US servicemen were dragged through the streets of Mogadishu.