US, allies discuss 'urgent need' to finalize plans for new African Union mission in Somalia

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States and four other countries discussed the need to finalize plans for the new African Union stabilization and support mission in Somalia, the U.S. Department of State said in a statement on Thursday.

The department said the U.S., Qatar, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom also discussed the urgency of finalizing funding options for the new mission.

The meeting among the U.S. and the other countries took place on Oct. 1, the department said.

(Reporting by Jasper Ward; Editing by Sandra Maler)