The UN Security Council called on all warring parties in Somalia on Monday to stop fighting immediately and agree to a comprehensive cease-fire.

In approving a presidential statement by consensus, the 15- member council expressed "grave concern" at the renewed fighting in Somalia, deplored the loss of civilian life and condemned "the indiscriminate shelling of heavily populated areas of Mogadishu."

The council called on all parties "to immediately end the hostilities and agree a comprehensive cease-fire."

It also stressed the need for increased humanitarian relief aid to the country and demanded that all parties comply full with international humanitarian law, protect the civilian population, and facilitate the access for humanitarian assistance.

It also called on all parties "in Somalia, the region and the wider international community to reject violence, to deny safe haven to extremist elements, to pursue differences they might have with the Transitional Federal Institutions through dialogue."

The council also called for the early convening of the National Reconciliation Congress which will be "truly representative of all segments of Somali society."

A fierce fighting has been raging in the capital between insurgents and Ethiopian and Somali government troops.

The transitional government announced the end of major fighting in the capital on Thursday after it launched a major offensive, backed by Ethiopian troops, crushing the defense of the insurgents and capturing their strongholds in the north and south of the city.

Source: Xinhua