Abdi says that public perception could now give Somalia's beleaguered president an opportunity to erase the humiliation his government suffered six months ago, when it was forced to beg for troops from neighboring countries to keep the government from being toppled.

VOA: standard.2009.12.23

It also comes in the wake of the Pope's visit, which I think is also setting the groundwork for sort of a cultural dialogue, an attempt to have a new start at the level of symbols and culture and try and erase some of the hostility of the last 8 or 9 years,".

VOA: standard.2009.05.09