UN: Possible "war crimes" in Somalia

Jul 10, 2009, 11:54 GMT

Geneva - The United Nations human rights chief said Friday there were grave abuses taking place in Somalia, including torture, the targeting of civilians and recruitment of child soldiers.

'Some of these acts might amount to war crimes,' Navi Pillay said in a statement delivered by her spokesman.

Regarding the resurgence of violence over the past two months plaguing areas of the country, which has not had a strong government since 1991, Pillay said civilians were the biggest victims.

'In this new wave of attacks, it is clear that civilians, especially women and children, are bearing the brunt of the violence,' she said.

Both the government forces and rebel sides are believed by the UN to have committed serious abuses.

Moreover, the Islamist Al Shabaab militia, which is trying to topple the transitional government, is said to have also carried extrajudicial executions, planted explosives in civilian areas and used civilians as human shields.

Ad-hoc tribunals have been set up and handed down 'death sentences by stoning or decapitation, as well as amputation of limbs and other forms of corporal punishment,' the UN said.

Al Shabaab have also destroyed places of religious significance and cemeteries, according to reports quoted by Pillay, the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Given that six journalists have been killed there so far this year, four in direct assassination, the UN refused to reveal its sources for the information, spokesman Rupert Colville said.

More than 200,000 people have been displaced from Mogadishu, the theoretical capital of Somalia, since May, many of them fleeing for the second or third time in recent years.

Pillay said she hoped to one day see the abusers brought to justice, but admitted it could take a while until order is restored to the mostly lawless Somalia.