By Marie-Louise Gumuchian

KHARTOUM, Oct 31 (Reuters) - Diplomats pressured Somali government and Islamist delegations on Tuesday to resume stalled talks seen as the best way to avert war in the Horn of Africa.

Both sides were due to meet in Sudan's capital Khartoum from Monday. But the government team arrived late and the Islamists said there would be no talks at all unless thousands of Ethiopian troops they say have invaded Somalia were withdrawn.

The newly powerful religious movement also objected to Kenya co-chairing the negotiations with the Arab League, arguing that Nairobi was biased because it already backed an African Union plan to deploy east African peacekeepers in the chaotic country.

Kenya chairs the regional Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), which shepherded Somalia's peace process two years ago. But on Tuesday, Kenya's ambassador to Somalia said IGAD was ready to step back if that would help talks begin.

"If it will require the withdrawal of IGAD so the Somali people can agree, we are happy to play that role," Mohamed Affey told reporters. "IGAD will never be and has never been an impediment to the process."

Diplomats met both teams separately late on Monday, and said they hoped face-to-face talks between the sides might begin on Tuesday. Two previous rounds of talks have produced little.

A posse of diplomats, including African, Arab and U.N. officials, are in Khartoum to support the talks.

REGIONAL WAR FEARS

If the process collapsed this time because one side was being obstructive, the guilty party must be named, Affey said.

"The international community must place responsibility somewhere," he said.

"It cannot be shared, it has to be taken by a party, and you will know the party which takes responsibility."

The rise of the Islamists, who control much of southern Somalia after seizing the capital Mogadishu in June, have isolated the provincially based administration and hampered its efforts to impose central rule on a country in chaos since 1991.

At the last talks in September, both sides agreed to create joint military forces and reconvene for power-sharing talks on political and security issues.

But security inside Somalia has deteriorated since then, with government and Islamist fighters facing off near a key southern town that has changed hands several times.

Fearing the standoff could spark a regional war sucking in Ethiopia and Eritrea, analysts say a truce should come first.

Addis Ababa denies any incursion although it says it has sent several hundred armed military trainers. Its old foe Eritrea, with whom it fought a 1998 -2000 border war, denies charges of sending arms to the Islamists.

The increasingly assertive Islamists have stopped fuel shipments reaching the government's sole outpost Baidoa and have been boosted by warlord fighters joining their ranks.

The Islamists say their priorities are restoring law and order, but critics say they harbour al Qaeda linked extremists.

AlertNet news is provided by

Delicio.us  |   Digg  |   NewsVine  |   Reddit