U.N. officials warned Friday that a planned conference in Ethiopia next week could be the last chance for Somalis to demonstrate their commitment to the country's future.

The three-day conference to begin Nov. 29 in Addis Ababa could be attended by all 16 Somali factions, representatives from all the 18 regions, Somali interest groups, most of the U.N.-member states and regional organizations, including the Organization of African Unity."There is a feeling among the international community of disappointment, of disengagement, of disenchantment," an aid official said at a press briefing in Nairobi.

"If that is the case, this opportunity is given for the Somalis to tell the international community that they are now ready to take ownership of their future," the official said.

The U.N. coordinator for Humanitarian Affairs, Hugh Chol-mon-deley, said each of the 16 factions would be allowed to choose two representatives. He said talks, held with 12 of the groups indicated considerable interest to see the Addis Ababa conference succeed.

"If that does not happen, then Somalia could end up like another Afghanistan," said one of the officials.

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The conference would be chaired by the Jan Eliasson, under-secretary general of the U.N. Department of Humanitarian Affairs.

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