Monday, April 23, 2007
The EU "strongly urges all parties to commit to a lasting cessation of hostilities to avoid further bloodshed," the 27-member bloc's foreign ministers said after a meeting in Luxembourg.
EU ministers also called on countries worldwide to step up financial support for the establishment of an African Union (AU) peacekeeping mission to Somalia after Ethiopian troops withdraw.
So far, only Uganda has approved sending a force to Somalia, with South Africa and Tanzania, among few others, still undecided.
The EU has put aside some 15 million euros for the planned AU mission in Somalia, but the support hinges on an opening of the political dialogue to all key stakeholders.
Experts fear the AU will be unable to support another peacekeeping mission given its Darfur operation.
EU ministers said they were "gravely concerned at the escalation of the conflict, the renewed fighting in Somalia and the severe human suffering it has caused."
They also called on Somali government troops and insurgents "to guarantee complete, unhindered and safe access for humanitarian relief work."
The United Nations has warned of a looming humanitarian catastrophe in the country and said that relief efforts were being hampered by the violence.
More than 200,000 people are believed to have fled Mogadishu since February, with many settling in makeshift camps in the Lower and Middle Shabelle regions outside the capital.
Somalia has been without strong central rule since 1991, when warlords toppled dictator Mohammed Siad Barre and then turned on each other, plunging the country into anarchy.
Source: dpa, April 23, 2007