Finding a Way Out of the Worsening Conflict in Somalia

(16 May 09 - RV) U.N. and African Union envoys met today to discuss the worsening conflict in Somalia.

U.N. Reports have indicated that up to 400 foreigners engineered this week's violence in the capital city Mogadishu in an attempt to topple the government which had been established as a result of reconciliation efforts.

The U.N. also expressed concern at reports that Horn of Africa nation Eritrea has supplied arms to opponents of Somalia's government in violation of a 1992 U.N. arms embargo and has called on the U.N. committee monitoring the sanctions to investigate.

More than 100 civilians have been killed and at least 30,000 people have fled their homes in Mogadishu.

Irene Lagan spoke with Bishop Giorgio Bertin, Apostolic Administrator of Somalia, about hope for finding a way out of the conflict and providing relief to the displaced civilian population.