UN in row over crisis in Somalia

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The United Nations is in deep disagreement with Somalia's interim government over the scale of the crisis in the capital, a top UN official says.

UN aid chief John Holmes says the dispute complicated his talks in Mogadishu with government officials.

The UN says some 300,000 people fled the city during recent clashes but the government says less than 30,000 left.

Some 1,300 people died during the fighting between Ethiopian-backed government troops and insurgents.

Some residents have returned but many are living under trees in towns and villages outside Mogadishu where they fled from the worst fighting in 16 years.

UN humanitarian relief chief John Holmes told the UN Security Council, that Somali clan elders and representatives of civil society had expressed concern to him about intimidation and are convinced the UN has abandoned Somalia.

"I assured them this is not true and we have the responsibility to ensure that this is indeed the case and not turn our backs on Somalis in desperate need," he said.

Mr Holmes was the most senior UN official to visit the city in more than a decade, but had to cut short his trip after bombs exploded in Mogadishu, killing three people.

The interim government has declared victory over the insurgents in the capital but government officials and structures have been the targets of unexpected attacks.

Last week, Prime Minister Ali Mohammed Ghedi escaped unhurt after a bomb went off near his convoy in Mogadishu.

That attack came shortly after five Ugandan soldiers serving in the African Union mission were killed when a roadside bomb hit their convoy whilst on patrol.

Some 1,500 Uganda soldiers have been deployed to Somalia as part of the planned 8,000 strong AU mission that will replace Ethiopian troops.

Ethiopia forces have been in Somalia since December at the invitation of the transitional government fighting Islamist insurgents and local clan militias.

Somalia has been without an effective national government for 16 years, controlled by rival militias and awash with guns.