SOMALIA: Somalis in Mogadishu appear divided over a U.N resolution to send troops to their country

Somalis in Mogadishu appeared divided over a U.N resolution to send troops to their country, as mortar attacks intensified. The U.N. Security Council on Tuesday authorised an African Union peacekeeping mission for Somalia for six months. The U.N. Security Council authorised an African Union (AU) peacekeeping mission for Somalia for six months on Tuesday (February 20) as mortar attacks pounded the capital and the northeast African country spiraled further into chaos. Mogadishu residents generally appeared to welcome the resolution which was adopted unanimously by the 15-member body and gave AU troops the go-ahead to take military action if needed to provide government, infrastructure and humanitarian security, and to train Somali security forces. But the prospect of Ethiopian troops being used as part of the mission was alarming for one Mogadishu resident. "If the Ethiopian troops are leaving and African troops are deployed, then I think that's fine with me but if Ethiopians are going to be part of the troops coming in then I oppose that resolution," said Omar Ahmed. The council also asked Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to investigate a possible U.N. peacekeeping operation after the AU deployment and to report back within 60 days with recommendations for further U.N. involvement in Somalia. Over Christmas and New Year, Somali forces backed by Ethiopia's military routed Islamist troops in a two-week war in the country, which has been in chaos since 1991 when it became a patchwork of feuding warlords after a dictator was ousted. But frequent attacks blamed on ousted Islamist hard-liners have put pressure on the interim government, which is trying to restore stability so that Ethiopian troops can return home. "These people want to rule by the use of mortars and we urgently need African peacekeepers to come in," said another resident Takor Mohamed. The African Union offered to send peacekeepers to Somalia after Ethiopia's Prime Minister Meles Zenawi said he wanted to withdraw his thousands of troops. Uganda, Nigeria, Burundi, Malawi and Ghana had offered to send soldiers. But only about 4,000 of the 8,000 troops called for have so far been pledged. "This resolution we need it, we welcome it, we have problems day and night, and we don't know where we can go," said Mogadishu resident Habibo Ahmed. The council also in part lifted a 1992 arms embargo but said the import of weapons was to be used only for the AU force. "We have many problems in Somalia, if they bring more troops I think the problem will double," said Aden Kadi, living in a camp for internally displaced people. The Security Council resolution reiterated its intention "to consider taking measures against those who seek to prevent or block a peaceful political process, threaten the transitional federal institutions by force or take action that undermines stability in Somalia or the region." Since their defeat, the Islamists, who had held Mogadishu for six months, have scattered to southern Somalia and Kenya, some vowing a long guerrilla war against the government. A wave of pre-dawn mortar attacks killed at least 16 people in the capital Mogadishu on Tuesday in one of the most brutal bombardments since the Islamists were forced out of the city. wr/jrc

ITN Source | February 21, 2007

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