(BBC) – The first major commercial airline in more than 20 years has landed in Somalia at Mogadishu airport in war-torn Somalia.

Turkish Airlines says it is the start of a regular service to the Somali capital, the first by an international carrier from outside East Africa.

Turkey’s Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bosdag was on board the flight, which was welcomed by the Somali president.

The twice-weekly flights should make travel easier for Somali businessmen and members of the large diaspora.

Somalia has not had a functioning central government for more than two decades and has been riven by factional fighting.

Islamist militants were pushed out of the capital by Africa Union and government forces last August – although they have continued to stage attacks in the city. Continue reading the main story