UN cites reports Eritrea aiding Somali militants
* Security Council eants charged against Eritrea probed
* Eritrea denies aiding insurgents in Somalia
By Megan Davies
The 15-nation council demanded that Somali opposition groups
immediately end the violence and join reconciliation efforts in the lawless
Horn of Africa state.
"The Security Council ... expresses its concern over reports that Eritrea
has supplied arms to those opposing the (government of) Somalia in
breach of the U.N. arms embargo," the statement said.
It also called for an investigation of the reports.
In an accusation backed by some security experts and diplomats,
Somalia's government said earlier this month that Asmara continues to
support al Shabaab militants with planeloads of AK-47 assault rifles,
rocket-propelled grenades and other weapons.
Eritrea rejects accusations that it sends weapons to the al Qaeda-linked
Islamist militants fighting Somalia's government.
Fighting between al Shabaab militants -- who admit to having foreigners in
their ranks -- and pro-government fighters has killed at least 139 people
and sent some 27,000 fleeing the pock-marked, seaside capital Mogadishu
since late last week.
The Security Council expressed "concern at the loss of life and the
worsening humanitarian situation arising out of the renewed fighting."
Somalia's 18 years of anarchy has left millions displaced, killed tens of
thousands and created one of the world's worst aid crises. Attacks on
relief workers, extortion and regular clashes have hampered groups trying
to work there.
Aid organizations warned on Thursday that Somalia's worst fighting in
months was aggravating an already dire humanitarian emergency.
NO U.N. PEACEKEEPERS FOR NOW
Somalia has been a byword for anarchy since a dictatorship was
overthrown in 1991. Currently, large parts of south and central Somalia
are under the control of al Shabaab insurgents and allied Islamist fighters.
The U.N. Security Council has long been under pressure from African
states to send a U.N. force to Somalia, but repeatedly delayed deciding. It
is due to consider the matter again by June 1.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon recommended in a report to the
Security Council last month that the best approach would be to step up
support for African Union peacekeepers already in Somalia, known as
AMISOM, and for Somali security forces.
If that is successful, the United Nations could gradually build up a U.N.
presence and take over from AMISOM. Indonesia has said it would be
willing to lead and provide troops for an eventual U.N. peacekeeping
mission in Somalia.
Ban has cautioned that sending U.N. blue helmets to Somalia any time
soon would be a high-risk move that would likely prompt attacks against
the peacekeepers.
Somalia's moderate Islamist leader Sheikh Sharif Ahmed was sworn in as
president in January, promising to forge peace with east African
neighbors, tackle rampant piracy offshore and rein in hard-line insurgents.
(Editing by Vicki Allen)
* Security Council eants charged against Eritrea probed
* Eritrea denies aiding insurgents in Somalia
By Megan Davies
- UNITED NATIONS, May 15
(Reuters) - The U.N. Security Council
on Friday voiced concern over reports
that Eritrea has been supplying arms to
Islamist militants intent on toppling
Somalia's new government and
condemned the recent violence.
The 15-nation council demanded that Somali opposition groups
immediately end the violence and join reconciliation efforts in the lawless
Horn of Africa state.
"The Security Council ... expresses its concern over reports that Eritrea
has supplied arms to those opposing the (government of) Somalia in
breach of the U.N. arms embargo," the statement said.
It also called for an investigation of the reports.
In an accusation backed by some security experts and diplomats,
Somalia's government said earlier this month that Asmara continues to
support al Shabaab militants with planeloads of AK-47 assault rifles,
rocket-propelled grenades and other weapons.
Eritrea rejects accusations that it sends weapons to the al Qaeda-linked
Islamist militants fighting Somalia's government.
Fighting between al Shabaab militants -- who admit to having foreigners in
their ranks -- and pro-government fighters has killed at least 139 people
and sent some 27,000 fleeing the pock-marked, seaside capital Mogadishu
since late last week.
The Security Council expressed "concern at the loss of life and the
worsening humanitarian situation arising out of the renewed fighting."
Somalia's 18 years of anarchy has left millions displaced, killed tens of
thousands and created one of the world's worst aid crises. Attacks on
relief workers, extortion and regular clashes have hampered groups trying
to work there.
Aid organizations warned on Thursday that Somalia's worst fighting in
months was aggravating an already dire humanitarian emergency.
NO U.N. PEACEKEEPERS FOR NOW
Somalia has been a byword for anarchy since a dictatorship was
overthrown in 1991. Currently, large parts of south and central Somalia
are under the control of al Shabaab insurgents and allied Islamist fighters.
The U.N. Security Council has long been under pressure from African
states to send a U.N. force to Somalia, but repeatedly delayed deciding. It
is due to consider the matter again by June 1.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon recommended in a report to the
Security Council last month that the best approach would be to step up
support for African Union peacekeepers already in Somalia, known as
AMISOM, and for Somali security forces.
If that is successful, the United Nations could gradually build up a U.N.
presence and take over from AMISOM. Indonesia has said it would be
willing to lead and provide troops for an eventual U.N. peacekeeping
mission in Somalia.
Ban has cautioned that sending U.N. blue helmets to Somalia any time
soon would be a high-risk move that would likely prompt attacks against
the peacekeepers.
Somalia's moderate Islamist leader Sheikh Sharif Ahmed was sworn in as
president in January, promising to forge peace with east African
neighbors, tackle rampant piracy offshore and rein in hard-line insurgents.
(Editing by Vicki Allen)
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