Somali ambassador warns against spread of war

    ADDIS ABABA, Dec. 24 (Xinhua) -- Somali Ambassador to Ethiopia Abdikarin Farah warned here Sunday that the war in Somalia is likely to spill out of the Horn of Africa country.

    "The war is no longer the war of Somalia, there is a great possibility of spreading across the region," he told journalists.Full story>>> 

    EU Presidency issues statement on Somalia

    HELSINKI, Dec. 24 (Xinhua) -- The European Union current presidency Finland expressed in a statement on Sunday its grave concern at the outbreak of fighting between Ethiopia and the Union of Islamic Courts in Somalia and urged the fighting parties to refrain from hostilities.

    The Presidency condemned the bombardments and exchanges of artillery fire, which may lead to civilian casualties and to an escalation into full-scale war.

    The European Union reiterated its call on all states, particularly those in east Africa, to seek a peaceful solution to the situation in Somalia, to refrain from acts which could endanger the cease-fire and the political process, and to fully observe the arms embargo.

    EU condemns escalation of conflict in Somalia

    BRUSSELS, Dec. 24 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU) condemned on Sunday the escalation of conflict in Somalia and asked for an immediate cessation of hostilities.

    "I condemn in the strongest terms the escalation of the conflict in Somalia into an all-out war and appeal for all Somali sides to cease immediately all hostilities," said Louis Michel, EU commissioner for development and humanitarian aid, in a statement.

    Arab League calls for dialogue to halt fighting in Somalia

    CAIRO, Dec. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Cairo-based Arab League (AL)called Sunday on the warring factions in Somalia to halt fighting and return to dialogue.

    AL Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs Ahmed bin Hilli made the call in an interview with Dubai-based al-Arabiya news channel.