The United Nations Security Council has warned it will "take measures" against anyone threatening Somalia’s western-backed transitional government and told Ban Ki-moon, secretary-general, to draw up plans for a possible UN takeover from African Union troops there.

In a resolution unanimously adopted on Monday, it authorised AU peacekeepers to stay for another six months to provide security for a National Reconciliation Congress and to protect the government against Islamist and other opponents.

The Council's warning follows suggestions last week by a senior US state department official that Eritrea, which has been accused of supplying weapons to Somali Islamists, might be placed on the US list of 'state sponsors' of terrorism.

"We have to put together the case against them. That information is being collected right now," Jendayi Frazer, assistant secretary of state for African affairs, last week said­.

"The information so far that we've collected is fairly convincing about their activities in terms of 'state sponsor' in Somalia."

Isaias Afwerki, the Eritrean president, responded by accusing the US of fuelling conflict in the Horn of Africa. "The US attempt to put into effect its strategy of monopoly and dominance through fomenting confrontation among peoples is leading the world to a dangerous path," he was reported as saying by the ministry of information.

The Council asked Mr Ban to report back in 30 days on how the UN might support the AU mission, and to develop contingency planning for a peacekeeping mission – although diplomats say political and security conditions are not yet in place.

The UN will also examine how it can bolster reconciliation talks, which are being boycotted by Islamist leaders, and will report on obstacles to their success.

Source: Financial Times (UK)