NAIROBI, Dec. 4 (Xinhua) -- IGAD, a regional seven-nation mediating body, has called for the withdrawal of foreign forces from Somalia amid fears that ongoing sporadic clashes would escalate into all-out war in the region.

    "The IGAD calls for the withdrawal of all foreign forces from Somalia and respect for the territorial integrity of Somalia and appeals to all countries to observe the UN arms embargo on Somaliain order to promote conductive environment for dialogue and reconciliation," IGAD said in a communique received here Monday.

    The call came as the powerful Islamists of Somalia have reportedly recruited foreign Islamist fighters to participate in the war against the transitional government and neighboring Ethiopia, which they accuse of backing the interim government.

    Addis Ababa has admitted hundreds of its military trainers are helping the government but denies they are taking part in any conflict.

    Participants at the Dec. 1-2 meeting in Djibouti, where IGAD is based, reportedly include IGAD Executive Secretary Attalla Bashir, SCIC foreign affairs chief Dr. Ibrahim Hassan Addou, Kenya's Ambassador to Somalia Mohammed Affey and Ethiopian Deputy Foreign Minister Tekeda Alemu.

    The SCIC pledged to resume talks with the UN-backed government in Sudan's capital of Khartoum, but analysts say hopes of going to Khartoum in mid-December looks slim as previous rounds of Arab League-mediated peace talks between the Islamists and the government yielded a truce and a mutual recognition pact but both have been violated amid heightening tension.

    The meeting of IGAD, which groups Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan and Uganda, also came as Speaker of Somalia's parliament Sharif Hassan Sheikh Aden renewed calls on Sunday for dialogue between rival groups.

    "I am calling on the Islamic court and the government to refrain from actions that could lead to full-scale conflicts," Aden told a news conference in Nairobi.

    "Talks can at least defuse tension and, if handled properly, could lead to a peaceful settlement. It is so easy to start war but no one knows when it will end. Therefore, I am advising all Somali entities to look for amicable solutions," he said.

    The speaker's plea came as Somalia's internationally recognized government, formed two years ago, edges closer to securing regional and international approval for the deployment of foreign peacekeeping troops in Somalia.

    It also welcomed a draft UN. Security Council resolution that would authorize a regional force to protect the fragile government.

    Somali Information Minister Ali Ahmed Jama Jangali said over the weekend the United States-led proposal is a step in the right direction to stabilize his country. He said he hopes the draft will be adopted quickly.

    The U.S. ambassador to the UN, John Bolton, circulated the proposal at the Security Council on Friday. He said the resolution envisions an 8,000-member peacekeeping mission staffed by IGAD.

    However, the powerful Islamist faction that has seized control of most of the country rejected the proposal Monday. An Islamist spokesman said the group is opposed to the idea of foreign troops coming to Somalia.

    Somalia has been without a functioning central authority since the 1991 ousting of strongman Mohamed Siad Barre and the two-year-old transitional government has been unable to assert control.

Editor: Yan Liang