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| Africa Horn |
| UN votes for Somalia force |
| 2006-12-07 |
| The UN Security Council has voted unanimously to authorise a regional force to protect the Somali government which is under increasing pressure from the Union of Islamic Courts and has lifted an arms embargo to allow the force to be equipped. Islamic Courts fighters have taken control of the capital and most of southern Somalia since June. The US-sponsored resolution urged the Islamic Courts fighters to stop any further military expansion and to join the transitional government in talks to achieve a political settlement in the country which has not had an effective government since 1991. It threatened Security Council action against those who block peace efforts or attempt to overthrow the government but no specific measures were mentioned. Critics of the resolution, including some non-governmental organisations, accuse the Security Council of taking sides in supporting the transitional government. The government was formed with the help of the UN two years ago but it has struggled to assert its authority against the Islamic Courts. |
| Posted by:Fred |