UN: Somali govt has rebuffed coup threat

The United Nations chief says Somalia’s transitional government has successfully rebuffed threats from extremist forces to overthrow it.

But UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon says the government still faces many challenges, first and foremost dealing with widespread insecurity.

He said the recent upsurge in attacks, assassinations and abductions has led to a worsening humanitarian crisis in Somalia.

In a report to the Security Council on Tuesday, the UN chief urged the government to stay the course—and he appealed to the international community to redouble its support and rally behind the government.

Ban said the UN stands solidly behind the African Union and its 5 200-strong force in the capital, Mogadishu, which lost 17 soldiers in an attack on September 17.

Somalia has not had an effective government since 1991.—Sapa-AP