Somalia's Prime Minister Ali Mohammed Gedi on Thursday called on Mogadishu-based warlords not to destabilize efforts aimed at restoring peace and stability to the lawless nation.

In a statement issued in Nairobi, Gedi termed the latest activities of warlords opposed to Somali government leaders based in Jowhar -- about 90 km north of Mogadishu -- as "totally unhelpful and unacceptable."

The warlords opposed to Somali government leaders based in Jowhar have reportedly being meeting to discuss possible retaliatory military action after a buildup of troops by President Abdullahi Yusuf.

The warlords, most of whom are cabinet ministers in the government and favor Mogadishu as the capital, see the president's base in provincial Jowhar and his massing of fighters there as a sign of imminent attack.

"The escalation of tensions and provocative statements from Mogadishu are totally unhelpful and unacceptable. We urge the perpetuators to instead work for the good of the Somali people who have lost innocent lives of the years," Gedi said.

"Such provocations and war-mongering attitudes do not help peace-building efforts but instead undermine the reconciliation efforts," he said.

However, sources said the warlords are divided on whether there exist possibilities of a consensus following its plans to recruit militias to form a civil military unit.

Gedi who has insisted that the capital is too unsafe, said such actions would jeopardize the peace process which his fledgling government is struggling to build through several initiatives.

"It is unfortunate and very sad for politicians who have demonstrated their inability to pacify Mogadishu, are now turning to extreme measures for the sake of personal gain," Gedi added.

He stressed that his transitional federal government is monitoring the latest development with great concern and "is in close contact with Inter-Governmental Authority on Development ( IGAD) countries and the international community."

On Wednesday, the UN special envoy for Somalia Francois Lonseny Fall urged Somali leaders to resolve their differences through dialogue and consensus and move towards restoring stability in the war-scarred nation.

Fall said only progress in the political process will unlock international support for peace, reconciliation and development.

Source: Xinhua