/ 7 October 2009

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