U.N. approves planning for possible force in Somalia

By Evelyn Leopold

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The U.N. Security Council authorized on Monday an African Union force in chaotic Somalia for another six months and asked the secretary-general to develop plans for a possible U.N. troop replacement.

In a resolution, approved unanimously, the council also threatened unspecified "measures" against those trying to thwart a peaceful political process, threaten force against the government or the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISON) or undermine stability in the region.

The United States is considering putting Eritrea on its list of state sponsors of terrorism for allegedly funneling weapons to insurgents fighting the Ethiopian-backed government in Somalia. A U.N. monitoring group last month reported that huge quantities of arms, including surface-to-air missiles were provided by Eritrea to Islamic insurgents.

Clashes between Islamist insurgents and Ethiopian-backed government troops have intensified in the past two months, despite the convening of a peace congress between Somalia's many clans and factions.

Somalia has been a byword for anarchy since the fall of dictator Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991.

The council's resolution asked Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to develop within 30 days "contingency planning for the possible deployment of a U.N. peacekeeping operation" to replace AU troops.

This would include sending another assessment mission to the Horn of Africa nation.

Few expect the United Nations to field a large force rather than provide financial or technical support to the AU unless fighting dies down and a viable peace process take place.