UN urges support for embattled Somali government after coup attempt

May 13, 2009, 15:42 GMT

New York - The United Nations asked the international community on Wednesday to support the current government in Somalia, which survived a recent coup attempt and is facing increasing violence in response to its gains in the peace process.

'Now is not the time to analyze and discuss, but to provide concrete help while it can still make a difference,' said B Lynn Pascoe, the UN under secretary general for political affairs.

Somali President Sheikh Sharif's government forces repelled last weekend an attempt to overthrow him. Heavy fighting in Mogadishu inflicted high casualties while thousands of Somali fled the capital, the UN said.

The UN cited news reports that foreign and al-Shabaah fighters took part in the coup attempt headed by Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys. It described the situation in Mogadishu as 'quite fragile' and the government's capacity to deal with the situation as limited.

'This latest surge in violence is clearly a response to the government's strategy to reach out and build a critical mass in support of peace,' Pascoe told the UN Security Council's meeting on Somalia.

'As the government gains success in its strategy of negotiation, persuasion and inclusion, radical elements within the opposition feel threatened and increase the level of violence,' Pascoe said.

The 15-nation council had wanted to deploy an international peacekeeping operation to Somalia, but withheld the final decision until conditions are appropriate for such a force.

Pascoe said international support for Sheikh Sharif and the beleaguered government in Mogadishu is now crucial to help the process of bringing warring factions to peace talks following decades of instability. The government is also facing demands to to quell the waves of piracy off its coast.