The UN Security Council on Wednesday unanimously adopted a U.S.-drafted resolution authorizing a regional peacekeeping force to be deployed in Somalia.

The resolution, co-sponsored by the United States, Congo, Ghana and Tanzania, also eased the 1992 arms embargo on Somalia to facilitate the deployment of the peacekeeping force.

It authorized the 7-nation Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), an east African group, and the African Union to establish "a protection and training mission in Somalia" for an initial period of six months.

The regional force would monitor progress made by both sides in implementing agreements reached in their dialogue, protect members as well as key infrastructure of the transitional government and train government forces.

The text also urged Somalia's transitional government and the Islamist faction to resume without delay peace talks on the basis of the agreements reached in Khartoum.

The resolution also warned of Security Council action against those who seek to block the peace process or attempts to overthrow the government by force.

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 across the nation of about 10 million people.

The lack of progress in peace talks between the government and the Union of Islamic Courts, which controls the capital, Mogadishu, has mounted concerns of the international community. Peace talks between the two warring sides collapsed last month.

Source: Xinhua