Pope says Somalia violence worsening Africa crisis

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Benedict said on Sunday recent violence in Somalia, where the capital Mogadishu has seen some of its heaviest fighting in 15 years, had dashed hopes for peace and worsened the outlook for the region.

"The renewed fighting has driven away the prospect of peace and worsened a regional crisis, especially with regard to the displacement of populations and the traffic of arms," the Pontiff said in his Easter "Urbi et Orbi" (to the city and the world) message.

A joint offensive by Somali government troops and allied Ethiopian forces led to entire pro-insurgent neighborhoods being demolished with rockets, tanks and artillery from March 29-April 1, in fighting that killed at least 400 people and wounded about 1,000.

The Pontiff also said he looked with "apprehension at the conditions prevailing in several regions of Africa".

He cited Darfur's "catastrophic" humanitarian situation, a "grievous crisis" in Zimbabwe, and violence and looting in the Democratic Republic of Congo.