From: Berhane Habtemariam (Berhane.Habtemariam@gmx.de)
Date: Fri Sep 05 2008 - 06:12:30 EDT
UN turns down peacekeepers for Somalia
5.8.2008
New York_(dpa) _ The UN Security Council on Thursday turned down a request by Somalia for a UN force in the troubled land, saying such a move would only be considered after advances are made in the political process and security situation in the African nation.
Somalia in August called on the council to deploy an international peacekeeping force without delay in order to put an end to its 17-year-old civil war. It had asked for a much smaller force than the previously proposed operation of 26,000 military and civilian personnel, and for proper funding so the force can do a "good job under reasonable circumstances."
The African mission in Somalia is currently supported by 2,600 troops from Uganda and Burundi. But African diplomats said the United Nations should take over and other countries should contribute to increase it to 8,000, which is the ceiling being considered by the UN.
The council instead asked Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to elaborate on a contingency plan for such a mission within 60 days. dpa nw aw
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