Somali government rejects new talks on Nov 15

KHARTOUM, Nov 2 (Reuters) Somalia's interim government has rejected a proposal to resume talks with rival Islamists in Khartoum in mid-November, a delegation member said today.

''The government delegation has refused to set a date and a place. We are calling on the Arab League (mediators) to say this conference has failed and why it has failed,'' Somali legislator Ahmed Omar Gagale told Reuters.

Speaking just before a government delegation press conference in Khartoum, Gagale said mediators and diplomats there had proposed the Nov 15 date after the third round of talks between the two sides failed to take place this week.

The failure of the talks -- formally postponed today -- has heightened fears of war in Somalia, with Ethiopia openly backing the government and Eritrea accused of arming the Islamists.

REUTERS SSC BS1523