United Nations: As US air force gunships carried outairstrikes in southern Somaliaagainst Al Qaeda leaders, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon warnedthat it could lead to an escalation of hostilities and harm civilians.

"Ban is especially concerned about their humanitarian aspect and about itsimpact on the civilian population in southern Somalia," his spokesperson Michele Montas said today.

US forces yesterday conducted an airstrike on a target in Somalia which was believed to beassociated with Al Qaeda.

"Ban regrets the loss of life," she said but parried the questionwhether the US air strikes, aimed at killing terrorist leaders without trial,fall in the category of extrajudicial killings which the world body oftencriticizes and whether it violated the international humanitarian law .

"Asked whether the strike violated the arms embargo imposed by the SecurityCouncil on Somalia and how does the US actions plays out in terms of Ban's callfor withdrawal of foreign troops from Somalia," Montas said

"We are tryingto gather more information about the military action in southern Somaliaincluding through the office in Nairobi of the Secretary-General's SpecialRepresentative for Somalia.," she said.

 "But notwithstanding the motives for this reported military action, the Secretary-General isconcerned about the new dimension this kind of action could introduce to theconflict and the possible escalation of hostilities that may result," she said.

"He is also concerned about the impact this would have on the civilianpopulation in southern Somalia,and regrets the reported loss of civilian lives," she said.