The fighting in Mogadishu has been caused by Islamic courts, which were once divided along clan lines. The courts have formed a group called the Union of Islamic Courts, portrayed as an alternative to the warlords who control most of the country.
On their part, a coalition of Mogadishu warlords have formed the Alliance for the Restoration of Peace and Counterterrorism to oppose the Islamic courts and to take control of all of Mogadishu.
The United States has accused by some of the Islamic leaders of harbouring three Al Qaeda leaders. The Islamic group and the UN-backed president have accused the United States of supporting the alliance. US officials will only say that they have been in contact with a wide variety of Somali leaders to fight terrorism in the Horn of Africa country.
The recent bout of fighting started while both sides were attempting to take control of strategic positions in the capital. Businessmen and moderate religious leaders have begun trying to negotiate a ceasefire, but most Somalis believe the fighting will only escalate in the long term. Meanwhile, in New York, the UN Security Council ignored recommendations for targeted sanctions and a tighter existing arms embargo in Somalia, despite a spike in violence and fears that Islamic fundamentalists have gained strength in the chaotic nation.
The recommendations had come from one of the council’s own committees, which warned that warlords in Somalia routinely violate the current arms embargo and have enriched themselves by selling fishing licences and exporting charcoal.
The council committee said in a report released yesterday that the influence of the Islamic fundamentalists was great now that they are a “third force” on par with the transitional government and an alliance of groups in the capital, Mogadishu.
Also yesterday, UN experts said they were investigating an unnamed country’s clandestine support for an anti-terrorism alliance of powerful warlords in Somalia, in apparent violation of the arms embargo. The experts, charged with monitoring enforcement of the UN embargo, gave no hint as to the identity of the country providing the secret assistance. | 
