Annan cautions against supporting warlords in Somalia

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Thursday urged the international community not to support Somali warlords as an international meeting began in New York to discuss ways to stabilize the war-torn East African nation.

"I would not have supported the warlords," Annan said in a veiled criticism of the US support for Somali warlords. "I don't think I would recommend the UN or the UN Security Council to support the warlords."

Annan was commenting on reports that the CIA paid Somali warlords to fight against the surge of Islamic extremist groups which have seized control of Mogadishu and most of the rest of the country.

The CIA helped fund the effort by the warlords because of suspected Islamic extremists' ties to al-Qaeda and concerns the country could become a safe haven for terrorism.

The US called for an international meeting last week after the coalition of Islamic groups took control of Mogadishu. The goal is to explore ways to stabilize Somalia and build governing institutions, US State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said in Washington.

The Somalia Contact Group includes the US, Britain, Norway, Sweden, Italy, Tanzania and the EU. The UN and African Union will play a role as observers.

Specific goals

The officials will "talk more about the specific goals so that you can get a better idea of how to coordinate various programmes, efforts and diplomacy in furtherance of those goals, and what new initiatives they might take," McCormack said.

Somalia has been brutalized by wars since dictator Mohammed Siad Barre was ousted in 1991. International efforts, including by the US, have been unable to restore order.

Although there are concerns about the success of the Islamists in Somalia, Washington has not ruled out dealing with those groups as long as they are not tied to terrorism.

"Our principle is that we want to work with individuals and groups who have an interest in fighting terrorism, fighting the presence of foreign terrorists on Somali soil," McCormack said.

That includes "individuals interested in helping to build up Somali institutions of governance so that you can some day get to the point where Somalis are able to build a functioning -- fully functioning state for themselves," McCormack added.

According to the New York Times on Thursday, the US State Department was looking to take control of the situation in Somalia from the CIA over concerns that the covert backing of the warlords may have helped fuel the Islamic movement.

In a news conference at UN headquarters, Annan said governments should work with Somali representatives to seek an end to their conflict.

He said the UN would work with regional organizations and not compete with them in Somalia.
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