Somali Transitional Governmentt welcomes UN resolution on peacekeeping force
December 8, 2006


Somalia's transitional government on Thursday welcomed the UN Security Council resolution endorsing the deployment of an African peacekeeping force in the Horn of Africa nation.

Prime Minister Ali Mohammed Gedi said the UN move was historic as it came at a critical moment amid tension of a looming war in the lawless nation.

"On behalf of the government and people of Somalia, I take this opportunity to express my deep gratitude and appreciation for the member states of the Security Council for deciding favorably and unanimously in passing this present resolution," Gedi told a news conference in Nairobi.

The Security Council on Wednesday approved a resolution that authorizes the deployment of an 8,000-strong African peace force to help the UN-backed government stamp its authority in Somalia.

The resolution also modified the embargo in force since 1992 and also calls on the interim authorities to resume dialogue with the Islamic Courts.

However, the resolution was flatly rejected by the Supreme Council of Islamic Courts (SCIC) who claimed it would offer cover for Ethiopia's expansionist objectives.

"We see this as creating instability in Somalia. Most of Somalia is peaceful," SCIC official Ibrahim Adow said in Mogadishu.

"Deploying foreign forces to Somalia is seen as invading forces and the Somali people are prepared to defend themselves against aggression," Adow added.

Gedi appealed to the international community to provide financial assistance to enable the deployment of the African peacekeepers take off immediately to enable his fledgling government restore central rule beyond Baidoa.

"I would like to request the African Union member states to contribute and deploy forces," he said.

"I also appeal to the international community and the development partners of Somalia to mobilize the required financial resources for the deployment of peace support mission in Somalia," the prime minister said.

The US-led resolution, adopted unanimously by the 15-nation Security Council, said Somalia's transitional government represented "the only route to achieving peace and stability" in the country, which has been without effective central government since 1991.

Diplomats believe the peace force will have to guarantee support to the interim government headed by President Abduallhi Yusuf who is considered an ally of Ethiopia.

However, observers believe it will be a long time before any peacekeepers arrive and say the UN resolution may be primarily intended to show symbolic support for the government.

The East African body, IGAD, which is supposed to supply the troops, is understood to be split over the idea.

The rapidly expanding Islamic Courts, which is expected to resume peace talks with transitional government mid this month, sees a peacekeeping force as cover for Ethiopian troops being sent to help the government, even though the UN resolution rules out troops from countries which border Somalia, such as Ethiopia.

The UN-backed government's bid to restore central rule for the first time since 1991 has been dented by the Islamists' territorial rise and takeover of large parts of southern Somalia including the capital Mogadishu since June.

The interim government was installed in Nairobi in late 2004 in an effort to bring peace and security to the Horn of Africa country, which has not had an effective government for 16 years.

Source: Xinhua