Arab states urge foreign forces to leave Somalia

CAIRO, Dec 27 (Reuters) Arab League members called today for a ceasefire in member state Somalia and the withdrawal of all foreign forces.

In a statement issued after a meeting of permanent representatives, the Arab League Council urged the transitional government and the Islamic Courts Union to return to peace negotiations in the Sudanese capital Khartoum.

''The council called on the Somali parties and Ethiopian forces to cease fire immediately, comprehensively and completely and to spare the Somali people more victims,'' it said.

''It called for the withdrawal of all forms of foreign presence from Somali territory, to prepare for implementation of UN Security Council resolution 1725.'' The council represents the 22 members and works by consensus.

The UN resolution endorsed African peacekeepers to help prop up the interim government in Somalia and also urged the authorities to pursue peace talks with their Islamist rivals.

Ethiopia has deployed troops in Somalia to support the government based in the provincial town of Baidoa. Ethiopian troops have been on the offensive against the forces of the Islamic Courts Union which holds the capital Mogadishu.

The government says the Islamic Courts Union has also brought in foreign fighters to fight on its side. The Islamists deny that.

The Arab League has been trying to mediate between the government and the Islamic Courts but the last rounds of talks have been postponed because of deep disagreements.

REUTERS SP RK2142