U.N. calling for Somalia reconciliation

UNITED NATIONS, Dec. 20 (UPI) -- The U.N. Security Council is urging leaders in Somalia to forge a national reconciliation to avoid the further deterioration of security.

The Security Council is calling on all sides in Somalia to use peaceful means to consolidate peace after a warning by U.N. Special Representative of the Secretary-General Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah that the situation in Somalia is "dangerous and becoming more so each day," the United Nations reported.

Italian Foreign Minister Massimo D'Alema called for a rejection of violence and urged Somali leaders to take action on the political and security fronts to prevent a further humanitarian crisis. Officials estimated that 1.5 million people in Somalia are in need of aid.

"The Security Council expresses its deep concern at the deteriorating humanitarian situation, aggravated by the prevailing security conditions in Somalia, and emphasizes again the need for strengthened efforts to provide humanitarian assistance to Somalia," D'Alema said in a statement.