Sanctions Likely on Eritrean government

The African union and Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), called Wednesday on the United Nations to impose sanctions on Asmara. According to AFP Eritrea retaliated on Saturday, saying it was IGAD that was to blame. "This is an irresponsible resolution by an inept organization which bears primary responsibility for the current mayhem and crisis in Somalia," the Eritrean foreign affairs ministry said in a statement. the foreign minister vigorously defend his country today against charges that it is backing Islamist insurgents with weapons and other military supplies.

But (IGAD) members remained generally in favor of imposing sanctions on Eretria, because they see Afarwarki as destabilizing Somali conflict Eritrea's U.N. Ambassador Araya Desta, contended that Eretria ''continues to be the target of grossly unsubstantiated allegations of backing the Islamist group Alshabab and smuggling weapons and ammunition.'

Mr. Desta proposed that the United Nations, instead of punishing Eretria, should help it solve the Somali problem. but IGAD members did not seem swayed by Eritrean assertions that Eretria had never engaged the insurgency and did not itself fuelled the Somali conflict.

The United State´s Secretary on African Johnny Carson said there is disturbing report and overwhelming evidence'' that the Eritrean government was actively backing the rebels at all levels. Also according A Western Diplomat in condition of anonymity said, ''we are supporting new measures against the government of Eretria because of its illegal support for insurgents in Somalia, its use of one of the world's most wanted Al-Qaida insurgencies as a proxy, and its promotion of instability in the region.'' he added that ´´there can no longer be a shadow of a doubt that President Affarwarki has callously been prolonging the conflict in Somalia for personal gain. It is high time for the Security Council to act.''

Diplomats say the resolution requires more work and is not likely to be presented for a vote before next month. But its existence, if only in draft form, has given the Liberian government a look at what lies

The harshest criticism and call of sanctions on Eretria was leveled by African Union, and has appealed to the United Nations Security Council to impose sanctions on Eritrea and other parties backing the insurgents fighting to overthrow Somalia's transitional federal government.