Somali militants aided by foreigners

MOGADISHU, SOMALIA —  Hundreds of foreigners fighting alongside Somali Islamic insurgents have driven this week’s fierce battles against government forces, which have killed more than 100 people, the United Nations envoy to Somalia said Friday.

Concern that the government might fall is mounting. Observers fear that if the Al Qaeda-linked insurgents seize Mogadishu, the capital, they will gain a safe haven on the Horn of Africa.

The U.N. Security Council on Friday condemned the upsurge in fighting and gave strong support to the country’s leaders. A statement approved by all 15 council members demanded that opposition groups immediately end their offensive, renounce violence and join reconciliation efforts.

The government controls only one major road in Mogadishu, along with some government installations, with the assistance of about 4,350 African Union troops.

The fighting has frightened even longtime residents of the battle-scarred capital. During a lull Friday, people streamed out of their homes seeking food or safer quarters.

The U.N.’s envoy to Somalia, Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, charged Friday that 280 to 300 foreign fighters were involved last weekend in an attempted coup against President Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed, a moderate Islamic leader.

“There is no doubt from sources overt and covert that in the attempted coup of last weekend there was significant involvement of foreigners,” he told journalists in Kenya.