UN authorises regional force to protect Somalia`s Govt

United Nations, Dec 07: The UN Security Council has authorised the establishment of an African protection and training mission in Somalia to help the country`s government fight against the militias and restore peace in the region. The new force, which will be set up by the African Union (AU) and the inter-governmental authority on development (IGAD), an East African group, has an initial mandate for six months. The resolution adopted unanimously prohibits countries bordering Somalia to deploy troops in that country. Under the resolution, the arms embargo on Somalia has been partially lifted to allow the supply of weapons and military equipment and technical training and assistance intended solely for the new force. The council took action in face of mounting international concern at the lack of progress in peace talks between the Transitional Federal Institutions (TFIs)and the union of Islamic courts, which controls the capital, Mogadishu. The mission is charged with protecting members of the TFIs, including the government, training those institutions` security forces to provide their own security and help re-establish national security forces. The other responsibility of the new force will be to maintain security in Baidoa, where the TFIs are based, to monitor progress on dialogue between the TFIs and the Islamic courts and to ensure the free movement and safety of all those involved in the dialogue process. Council members also stressed that they consider the TFIs and the transitional federal charter to "offer the only route to achieve peace and stability in Somalia", which has not had a functioning national government since the regime of Muhammad Siad Barre was toppled in 1991. The resolution urges both sides to resume peace talks immediately, and warned that the council would take action against anyone who tries to block peaceful dialogue or overthrow the TFIs by force. Last week, council members adopted a resolution condemning the recent spike in Somalia`s weapons trade and extending the mandate by six months of a group of experts charged with monitoring the flow of arms. Bureau Report