SECURITY COUNCIL CONDEMNS DEADLY ATTACK ON AFRICAN UNION BASE IN SOMALIA

SECURITY COUNCIL CONDEMNS DEADLY ATTACK ON AFRICAN UNION BASE IN SOMALIA
New York, Feb 25 2009 5:00PM
The United Nations today condemned in the strongest terms the suicide attack on the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) base in Mogadishu, which caused the deaths of 11 Burundian peacekeepers and injured 17 others on Sunday.

"The members of the Security Council express their condolences to the families of the victims, to the people and the Government of Burundi, and to the African Union," Ambassador Yukio Takasu of Japan, which holds the Council Presidency for the month, said in a press statement.

"The members of the Council reiterate their condemnation of all acts of violence and incitement to violence against AMISOM" following reports of further attacks yesterday, he added.

The 15-member body reiterated its commitment to supporting a strengthened AMISOM, which it said played a vital role in helping to bring peace and security to Somalia, and commended the Governments of Uganda and Burundi for their contributions.

In its statement, the Council applauded the ongoing political process in Somalia that led to the expansion of Parliament and the election of a new president, Sheikh Sharif Ahmed, who has made taken steps to "strengthen the political process and improve security."

Mr. Takasu said that "the members of the Security Council call on all Somalis to reject violence and extremism, to embrace peaceful means of resolving conflicts, and to support the government towards this goal," stressing the body's "determination to combat all forms of terrorism."
________________

SOMALIA: TOP UN ENVOY SPEAKS OUT AGAINST KILLING OF AU PEACEKEEPERS

SOMALIA: TOP UN ENVOY SPEAKS OUT AGAINST KILLING OF AU PEACEKEEPERS
New York, Feb 23 2009 2:00PM
The top United Nations envoy to Somalia today said he was shocked to hear about an attack against African Union peacekeepers in the capital that claimed the lives of 11 Burundian troops.

Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, the Secretary-General's Special Representative, characterized yesterday's incident as "unpatriotic" and expressed shock to hear of the murder of the peacekeepers who were trying to help the Horn of Africa nation.

The killings of the soldiers with the AU peacekeeping mission in Somalia, known as AMISOM, occurred the day after the Parliament approved the new Cabinet put together by Prime Minister Omar Sharmarke.

"I am sure that this attack was carried out to detract attention from positive developments concerning Somalia," Mr. Ould-Abdallah said, adding that the new Government seeks to help bring normality back to the people.

Somalia is entering a "time of hope," with President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed returning to Mogadishu today, he noted. "For Somalis, those who are behind these killings are well-known and are on the losing side."

There have been several encouraging developments over the past month for Somalia, which has not had a functioning central government since 1991, including the election of the new President in what the UN has hailed as "a fair and open manner" and the creation of an enlarged Parliament.
________________