¡¡¡¡NAIROBI, February 14 (Xinhuanet) -- Sudanese Foreign Minister Mustafa Osman Ismail on Thursday urged the anti-terrorism coalition not to act militarily in Somalia, saying the move will add more sufferings to the people of the Horn of Africa.

¡¡¡¡Osman, also chairman of the council of ministers of the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), told an opening session in Nairobi of IGAD foreign ministers on Somalia that the coalition should instead give IGAD a chance of a final peace settlement in Somalia.

¡¡¡¡It is sad to note that Somalia has since the September 11 eventattracted international attention in a negative way, he said.

¡¡¡¡In the absence of an effective government in control of the whole country, Somalia is now labeled as a possible sanctuary for international terrorism, the Sudanese minister added.

¡¡¡¡There is even talk of a possible military action against suspected terrorist sites in that country, Osman said, adding thatall these and their repercussions are grim realities that the countries of the east African region have to face collectively.

¡¡¡¡"It is imperative that collective efforts from the IGAD member states as well as supportive steps from our partners, the concerned parties and the entire international community would help us to complete and consolidate an overall national reconciliation," he noted.

¡¡¡¡The foreign ministers of seven-member IGAD are meeting here to discuss the implementation of the resolution of the last IGAD summit in Khartoum, capital of the Sudan.

¡¡¡¡IGAD now groups Kenya, Uganda, the Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti and Somalia.

¡¡¡¡Kenya has played a leading role in mediating conflicts in the region. Kenyan President Daniel arap Moi have held several peace talks with warring factions in Somalia.

¡¡¡¡Observers here noticed that the latest attempts to reestablish peace and order in Somalia come at a time when the international community is concerned that al-Qaeda terrorists would find sanctuary in lawless Somalia. Enditem

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