Wednesday, November 15, 2006
A study commissioned by the UN accused 10 countries and various established militant groups of fuelling a rapid military build-up in the Horn of Africa nation.
Annan said: "An already difficult and volatile situation could be further complicated by neighbouring countries rushing in with troops or guns to support one side or the other.
"It will only compound the problem, so I would urge them to stay out."
Somalia's weak interim government and Islamists, who captured Mogadishu from the United States-backed warlords in June, had been vying for control of the country, which had not had a functioning government since 1991's ouster of dictator Mohamed Siad Barre.
Somalia 'a failed state'
Talks to resolve the Somali crisis had so far failed to produce a breakthrough. Annan called on the government and Islamists to avoid any further confrontation or military action and resume talks.
Annan said: "The people of Somalia have suffered for a long time. It is a country that has been in crisis .... and can be described as a 'failed state'. But it will recover."
The new report to the UN security council said at least seven nations were providing weapons and military supplies to the Islamists, who aimed to rule Somalia through sharia law, and three were arming the largely impotent transitional government.
The report said since June, the main violators of a widely ignored 1992 arms embargo had been Ethiopia and Eritrea, who were backing the government and Islamists respectively.
But the report said Djibouti, Egypt, Libya and Saudi Arabia also provided support ranging from weapons to money and military supplies including medicine to the Islamists.
The report said Yemen shipped loads of weapons to the government, and Uganda provided equipment and an unspecified number of soldiers to bolster the government.
Source: Reuters, Nov 15, 2006