United Nations:The United Nations has appealed to Ethiopia and Kenya to try to halt the violence.

Concerned the conflict might escalate beyond control with unforeseen consequences for the region, UN Secretary General Annan telephoned Ethiopia's Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and Kenyan President Mwai Kabaki, seeking their intervention to stop the fighting.

He also discussed the issue with European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid Louis Michel who had recently visited Somalia.

Briefing the Council on developments, Annan's Special Representative for Somalia Francois Lonseny Fall warned of possible regional consequences should the fighting between SomaliaFs Transitional Federal Government (TGF) and the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) escalate.

Ethiopian forces are fighting UIC fighters.

"I urge Council members to call on the two sides to halt the fighting immediately and not to take any further provocative actions. All sides to the Somali conflict must also be urged to' return to dialogue, without preconditions," Fall said.
 

 "Highlighting that the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has already registered 760 war wounded, amid reports of 'several deaths and injuries' to civilians," he said.