SECRETARY-GENERAL CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE HALT TO HOSTILITIES IN SOMALIA, FOLLOWING MOGADISHU VIOLENCE, DOWNING OF AFRICAN UNION AIRCRAFT

SECRETARY-GENERAL CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE HALT TO HOSTILITIES IN SOMALIA,

FOLLOWING MOGADISHU VIOLENCE, DOWNING OF AFRICAN UNION AIRCRAFT

The following statement of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon was issued today in Cairo:

I am greatly concerned at the conflict that has ravaged Somalia in the past few days, especially in Mogadishu.  This has resulted in the death of innocent civilians and the displacement of a large number of people from their homes.

The downing of the African Union Mission in Somalia plane and the death of its crew has added further bloodshed to this tragic conflict in Somalia.

I therefore urgently call for an immediate cessation of hostilities.  I also call on the Transitional Federal Government and the transitional federal institutions to embark on a dialogue with all Somali parties, with the objective of attaining genuine national reconciliation through an inclusive political process that is representative of all Somali parties. 

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For information media • not an official record