New Delhi: Expressing concern over American air strikes in Somalia, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has warned that it could lead to an escalation of hostilities and harm civilians.
"Notwithstanding the motives for this reported military action, the Secretary-General is concerned about the new dimension this kind of action could introduce to the conflict and the possible escalation of hostilities that may result," said Moon’s spokesperson Michele Montas during daily press briefing on Wednesday.
Asked whether the strike violated the arms embargo imposed by the Security Council on Somalia and how does the US actions plays out in terms of Ban's call for withdrawal of foreign troops from Somalia, Montas said "we are trying to gather more information about the military action in southern Somalia including through the office in Nairobi of the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Somalia."
"He is also concerned about the impact this will have on the civilian population in southern Somalia and regrets the reported loss of civilian lives," said the spokesperson.
"Ban regrets the loss of life," the spokesperson said but sidestepped the question whether the US air strikes, aimed at killing terrorist leaders without trial, fall in the category of extrajudicial killings, which the world body often criticises, and whether it violated the international humanitarian law.
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