From: Biniam Haile \(SWE\) (eritrea.lave@comhem.se)
Date: Fri May 15 2009 - 16:00:29 EDT
UN cites reports Eritrea aiding Somali militants
15 May 2009 18:59:07 GMT
* Security Council wants charged against Eritrea probed
* Eritrea denies aiding insurgents in Somalia
(Adds details, background; paragraphs 8-10, 12-14)
By Megan Davies
UNITED NATIONS, MaThe 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)
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N15313368.htm
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