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UN: Eritrea aiding Somali militants

The U.N. Security Council 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 Security Council ... expresses its concern over reports that Eritrea has supplied arms to those opposing the [government of] Somalia in breach of the UN arms embargo," the statement said.

The Council called for an investigation into the reports.

The 15-nation council also demanded that Somali opposition groups immediately end the violence and join reconciliation efforts in the lawless Horn of African state.

In an accusation backed by some security experts and diplomats, Somalia's government said earlier this month that Eritrea continues to support al Shabab fighters with AK-47 assault rifles, rocket-propelled grenades and other weapons.

Eritrea rejects the accusations that it sends weapons to the al Qaeda-linked groups fighting Somalia's government.

Araya Desta, Eritrea's UN ambassador, said: "We have never done this - it is totally false and misleading."

Desta said Eritrea had never given financial or military support to opposition factions in Somalia.

"The historical relationship that exists between Eritrea and Somalia is still intact, we fully respect them and we anticipate peace and stability in the country - that is our goal," he said.

Clashes between al Shabab fighters - who admit to having foreigners in their ranks - and pro-government fighters have killed at least 139 people and sent around 27,000 people fleeing the seaside capital of 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 organisations warned on Thursday that Somalia's worst fighting in months was aggravating an already dire humanitarian emergency.

Large parts of Somalia's south and centre are under the control of al Shabab and allied fighters.

The UN Security Council has long been under pressure from African states to send a UN force to Somalia, but repeatedly delayed deciding.

It is due to consider the matter again by June 1.

Ban Ki-moon, the UN secretary-general, 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, Amisom, and for Somali security forces.

Indonesia has said it would be willing to lead and provide troops for an eventual UN peacekeeping mission in Somalia.

Ban has cautioned that sending UN blue helmets to Somalia any time soon would be a high-risk move that would likely prompt attacks against the peacekeepers.

Sharif Ahmed was sworn in as Somalia's president in January, promising to forge peace with east African neighbours, tackle rampant piracy offshore and rein in anti-government fighter groups.

US blames Eritrea for violence in Somalia

The United States accused Eritrea of "fanning the flames of violence" in Somalia and demanded it immediately end support for Islamist extremists trying to topple the transitional Somali government.

The State Department said Eritrea had been "instrumental" in helping the insurgents carry out a recent wave of attacks in Mogadishu that has killed at least 113 civilians since Saturday and prompted 27,200 people to flee their homes. Eleven people were killed in violence on Thursday, according to a human rights group.

"Eritrea has been instrumental in facilitating support of the extremists to commit these attacks," department spokesman Ian Kelly said in a statement. "This support must cease immediately.

He said the extremists are "in pursuit of a radical agenda that can only promote further acts of terrorism and lead to greater regional instability" and warned that "Eritrea's support for anti-government forces in Somalia is a serious obstacle to the possibility of a more normal relationship with the United States."

The Bush administration had considered placing Eritrea on its blacklist of state sponsors of terrorism for its alleged backing of radical Islamists in Somalia _ some of whom U.S. officials accuse of links with al-Qaida _ who are trying to oust an internationally backed but largely powerless interim government.

But last year, the administration stopped short of that step and instead found that Eritrea was not cooperating in counterterrorism efforts. Eritrea has repeatedly denied charges it is supporting the extremists, although U.N. experts have reported large shipments of weapons in Mogadishu that originated in Eritrea.

"This as a disturbing development," President Barack Obama's top official on Africa, Jonnie Carson, told the BBC.

Mr Carson also expressed concern about flights from Eritrea were carrying weapons and ammunition to Somalia to supply al-Shabaab.

"There have been numerous reports that the government of Eritrea has, in fact, been supplying weapons and munitions to al-Shabaab.

"These are reports that we do find credible," he said. (BBC, ABC Online, Reuters, AP, )

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