SECRETARY-GENERAL ‘DEEPLY DISTURBED’ BY INTENSIFIED FIGHTING IN SOMALI CAPITAL

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

The Secretary-General is deeply disturbed by the intensification of fighting in Mogadishu today, which has resulted in the tragic loss of civilian lives.

He is particularly concerned about the use of air strikes and the introduction of tanks and heavy artillery into densely populated parts of the city, further increasing the security threat to large numbers of civilians.  This is a dangerous and troubling new development that has the potential to unravel the peace process.  He urges all the parties to put an immediate end to the fighting and to honour the cessation of hostilities agreed to last week.

The Secretary-General emphasizes once again that sustainable peace in Somalia can only be attained through an inclusive dialogue leading to a political solution and national reconciliation.

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For information media • not an official record