U.N. Sets Up Somalia Mission in Boost to New Government

The U.N. Security Council on Thursday set up a special mission to Somalia in a move described as the biggest international commitment to the conflict-stricken nation in two decades.

A British-proposed resolution set up the new U.N. Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) that diplomats said should be working by the end of June.

Up to 200 security, human rights, political and financial experts will work with Somalia's fledgling government in a move that could lead to the 17,000-strong African military force in the Somalia coming under U.N. control.

The resolution gives UNSOM the task of helping to build up the Somali government that relies on the African force to hold off Islamist militants.

The Security Council highlighted "significant progress" in Somalia over the past year even though car bombs in Mogadishu on April 14, which killed at least 34 people, highlighted the fragile state of security in a country that has not had an effective government since 1991.

Britain's U.N. ambassador Mark Lyall Grant said UNSOM "represents the most significant U.N. engagement in Somalia for the last two decades."

He said it would be "providing coherence and coordination to international support in Somalia," particularly in security areas and in "vital" reporting on human rights and sexual violence.

More than 17,000 troops are in the African Union security force in Somalia, known as AMISOM. As security improves in the country, this could become a U.N. peacekeeping force.

Lyall Grant said the U.N. could take over in the transition from AMISOM's major security operations against the Shebab militants to Somali forces taking control of the country.

"In our view there is quite likely to be a gap between those two things and to fill that gap (it) might be sensible to consider a U.N. peacekeeping operation," the British ambassador added.

"Now that hasn't got agreement in the council yet but we have said that the secretary general should continue considering the various options."

Britain has taken a leading role in international efforts to help rebuild Somalia from its prolonged conflict. Another international conference on Somalia is to be held in London on May 7 concentrating on security and ways to prevent international finance to Somalia being diverted.