UN chief voices fears over Somalia airstrikes

New United Nations secretary general Ban Ki-moon fears that US bombing in southern Somalia could increase hostilities and harm civilians, some of whom are reported to have been killed in the air strikes.

“Notwithstanding the motives for this reported military action,” spokeswoman Michele Montas said early today, “the secretary general is concerned about the new dimension this kind of action could introduce to the conflict and the possible escalation of hostilities that may result.

“He is also concerned about the impact this would have on the civilian population in southern Somalia and regrets the reported loss of civilian lives.”

American helicopter gunships have been targeting suspected al Qaida fighters in southern Somalia in a series of deadly air strikes.

Ban said last week that the rout of the Islamic movement by Ethiopian troops and Somali forces supporting the country’s UN-backed transitional government offered “a new opportunity” for the government to establish full authority throughout the country for the first time.

He urged the government to seek political reconciliation, called for the speedy deployment of African peacekeepers, and welcomed Ethiopia’s statement that it intends to withdraw its forces “expeditiously”.

Javier Solana, the European Union’s foreign policy chief, said he told Ban on Monday that a UN peacekeeping force may be needed to guarantee security and stability in Somalia, which has not had a functioning government for 15 years.

Solana said Ugandan forces may be the first deployed to replace Ethiopian troops, but he said the African Union was already carrying a “very heavy” peacekeeping burden in Sudan, and the United Nations may have to step in instead of the AU and take over the next phase.

Somalia has not had an effective central government since clan-based warlords toppled dictator Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991 and then turned on each other, sinking the Horn of Africa nation of seven million people into chaos. The current government was established in 2004 with UN backing.

On December 6, the UN Security Council authorised an African force to protect the transitional government against the Union of Islamic Courts, which had taken control of the capital and most of southern Somalia. The council also authorised the force to train Somali government troops, and lifted a UN arms embargo for the African troops.

Montas was questioned by reporters on whether the US bombing violated the arms embargo. She said the council would be discussing Somalia today and that the UN was trying to gather more information about the military action in southern Somalia.

Somalia’s President Abdullahi Yusuf said the US was hunting suspects in the 1998 bombings of two US embassies in East Africa, and had his support.

Montas said UN humanitarian operations in the area where the bombs were being dropped were suspended and international staff were evacuated before Christmas when the recent fighting started.