UN concerned over "persistent" weapons flow

The UN Security Council has expressed concern over the "persistent flow of weapons and ammunitions" to Somalia. The sentiment was expressed in a statement read out by Fayssal Mekdad of Syria - which currently holds the Council's presidency - after hearing a briefing from the sanctions committee on Somalia. A four-member panel of experts, investigating violations of the arms embargo on Somalia, was appointed by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan in September 2002 and advises the Council's sanctions committee. The statement stressed that member states were responsible for "fully implementing" the arms embargo on Somalia. "[The Council] reiterated its call upon all Somali and regional parties, as well as government officials and other actors contacted outside the region, to cooperate with the panel of experts in the discharge of its mandate," the statement added. A mission from the sanctions committee, meanwhile, is to visit the region in October "to demonstrate the Council's determination to give full effect to the arms embargo".