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Somali talks fail amid war fears Somali talks fail amid war fears
(about 2 hours later)
Peace talks between Somalia's weak interim government and Islamists have collapsed in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, mediators say. Peace talks between Somalia's transitional government and Islamists have been postponed, mediators in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, say.
The talks, aimed at avoiding war in the Horn of Africa, have been placed on indefinite hold after the two sides refused to meet face to face. The talks have been placed on indefinite hold after the two sides refused to meet face-to-face, a statement said.
The mediators said further consultations were needed to move the dialogue forward. The mediators called for restraint and said further consultations were needed to move the dialogue forward.
Observers now fear a conflict which could engulf the entire region.Observers now fear a conflict which could engulf the entire region.
The foreign minister of Somalia's transitional government, Ismael Mohamoud Hurreh, told the BBC that his government hoped to avoid war. The foreign minister of Somalia's transitional government, Ismael Mohamoud Hurreh, told the BBC there was a danger of all-out conflict in the Horn of Africa.
However, he also said that conflict would be inevitable if Somalia's Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) continued on their current path. Mr Hurreh said his government hoped to avoid war but warned that conflict would become inevitable if Somalia's Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) continued on their current path.
He said countries in the region were deeply concerned about the UIC's declaration of jihad on their neighbours. The minister said countries in the region were deeply concerned about the UIC's declaration of jihad on their neighbours.
With neither side willing to accept the other's pre-conditions for talks, international mediators have called on both sides to exercise restraint. Restraint urged
These are the third round of talks the Arab League has organised in Khartoum.
With neither side willing to accept the other's pre-conditions for talks, international mediators have called on both parties to exercise restraint.
"The parties are urged to commit themselves to previous agreements reached in Khartoum," their statement said.
The two sides have previously agreed a ceasefire but the UIC has continued to gain ground
The UIC has rapidly taken control of most of southern Somalia since seizing the capital, Mogadishu, in June.
The government only controls the territory around Baidoa, 250km (150 miles) north-west of Mogadishu.
Before arriving in Khartoum, the Islamist delegation said they would not take part in the talks unless Ethiopian troops left Somalia.
Ethiopia denies having a fighting force in Somalia, but says it has hundreds of military trainers with the government.
Somalia has been in the grip of warlords and militias for years and has not had a functioning national government since 1991.