Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni on Monday welcomed the U. S. arms support to Somalia and urged other countries to help stabilize the war-torn country.

Museveni told reporters here that he had held talks with some American officials on provision of support to the UN backed Somali transitional government.

"Any member of the UN is free to give support and should have done so earlier than now," he said.

The United States last week confirmed that it had sent weapons to Somali following an urgent call for military help from the transitional government.

Uganda's troops make up the bulk of the African Union (AU) peace keeping force deployed in the Somali capital Mogadishu, where Islamic militants have increased their attacks on the government.

Museveni dismissed concerns that the U. S. action may increase the militants' attack on the Somali government.

"If it was a unilateral action by the U.S. outside the framework of the AU and the UN, then that would be a problem. But this one is not because it is within the framework of the AU and the UN," he said.

He advised those fighting the Somali government to allow peace to prevail and then demand a timetable for general elections.

"Just fighting against a government which is supported by the AU, UN is really not correct; I think they are on the wrong side," he said.

Somalia has been plagued by civil strife since the overthrow of military strongman Siad Barre in 1991.

Source:Xinhua