African Union leaders call for UN sanctions on Eritrea

July 3, 2009 (SIRTE, Libya) – African leaders during their summit in Libya called on the UN Security Council to impose sanctions on Eritrea, accusing it of supporting the Islamist insurgents who want to overthrow the Somali government.

The African heads of states and governments adopted, during Sirte meeting, a resolution backing the Somali transitional government led by President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed and condemned the attacks by the Somali rebels.

The African Union “issues an appeal to the United Nations Security Council … to impose sanctions on all outside actors, either in the region or beyond, in particular Eritrea, which provide support to armed groups,” said the resolution.

Further it requested the UN Security Council to impose a sea blockade and no-fly zone to stop weapons and other supplies reaching the Somali Islamists.

The condemnation confirms another resolution adopted by the AU Peace and Security Commission earlier this year, it also joins other accusations by the UN, IGAD and others about the Asmara support to the Somali Islamists who are allegedly in relations with Al-Qaeda.

Eritrea has always denied providing weapons and training to the rebels but admitted political support.

In a meeting held on the sidelines of the African summit in Sirte with President Ahmed, the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Johnnie Carson, on Friday reiterated the US full support to his government.

Last week, the US administration said it would send weapons to the Somali government.

(ST)