Workshop on ending impunity

MOGADISHU, Somalia, Nov. 25 (UPI) -- The United Nations is supporting a new effort in Somalia to end impunity and establish rule of law in a move to bring peace to the war-ravaged country.

The United Nations sponsored a two-day workshop, attended by officials from Somalia's Transitional Federal Government and the Islamic Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia, which aims at ending impunity, the United Nations reported.

Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, U.N. special representative for Somalia, called on Somali leaders at the workshop to establish a commission of inquiry and an international court to bring criminals to justice. Officials say the ongoing flare-ups in violence and the increased threat from pirates off the Somali coast are largely the result of an impasse over implementing a peace deal and from impunity.

"Impunity has been addressed in many post-conflict countries such as Burundi, Cambodia, Liberia and Sierra Leone," Ould-Abdallah said in a statement.

"Time has come to address impunity and crimes committed by Somalis since the beginning of the civil war. ... I urge all parties, and the international community, to support the cooperation between Somalis to bring an end to impunity."