EU experts fear U.S. move could spark Somalia war (Reuters)

[Eugene]

EU experts fear U.S. move could spark Somalia war
21 Nov 2006 23:47:25 GMT
Source: Reuters

By Paul Taylor

BRUSSELS, Nov 21 (Reuters) - European Union experts say the United States is pushing
to get a regional peacekeeping force deployed in Somalia and this could trigger a wider
war in the Horn of Africa, European Commission sources said on Tuesday.

The EU executive's department for African development has warned the bloc's governments
that such a deployment could give cover for a larger military operation against the Islamists
who control Mogadishu.

The stark warning given to envoys of the 25 EU states said a peacekeeping operation
without the consent of all sides would be seen as an "invading force" and exacerbate the
risk of conflict and of jihadist attacks, the sources said.

A U.N. Security Council committee is considering what action to take after receiving a
report last week finding extensive illegal arms flows into Somalia, both to the Islamic Courts
Union movement and to the shaky interim government.

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Full article: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L21851977.htm