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U.N. partially lifts Somalia arms embargo

NEW YORK, March 6 (UPI) -- With Somalia's minister of foreign affairs complaining of lingering war, the U.N. Security Council has authorized a partial suspension of an arms embargo.

The Security Council Wednesday adopted a resolution in a unanimous vote to partially lift the arms embargo on Somalia until Oct. 25.

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Somalia is required to give U.N. monitoring groups advance notice of deliveries and submit written confirmation within 30 days of delivery for arms used for the development of the country's national security forces.

Abdirahman Duale Beyle, Somali minister for foreign affairs and international cooperation, told the Security Council there were assassination attempts made against the nation's president recently. This, he said, was an indication of the weakness of national security forces.

"We are a country in a serious war," he said.

The minister said the Somali government wanted the arms embargo lifted completely.

Al-Shabaab, a militant group with ties to al-Qaida, targeted the presidential compound in Mogadishu last week. President Hassan Sheik Mohamud escaped unharmed.

Somali officials say al-Shabaab, which was driven from Mogadishu in 2011, is making a comeback.

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