UNITED NATIONS, Nov 19, 2007 - The U.N. Security Council rejected Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's opposition to the possible deployment of U.N. peacekeeping troops to Somalia and underlined its call for contingency planning for a U.N. force.

In August, the council called on the secretary-general to begin planning for the possible deployment of U.N. peacekeepers to replace an African Union force that has struggled to put troops in the chaotic country.

But against a backdrop of heavy fighting and growing insecurity, Ban opposed the deployment in a report to the council earlier this month and suggested instead a robust multinational force or a coalition of volunteer nations to help restore security.

In a statement after a briefing and closed-door consultations on Ban's report, the council "underlined the need to continue to actively develop contingency plans for the possible deployment of a peacekeeping force as part of an enhanced U.N. integrated strategy in Somalia."

Indonesia's U.N. Ambassador Marty Natalegawa, the current council president, said what this means is that the council wants contingency planning about a possible U.N. peacekeeping force integrated with U.N. plans to improve humanitarian aid and promote political reconciliation in

"There is greater clarity of recognition that the council needs to take this forward, and we'll take this one step at a time, mindful, however, of the urgency of the situation," Natalegawa said.

Council diplomats said there was widespread support for preparing to deploy a U.N. peacekeeping force quickly when the conditions are right, but not to authorize it immediately. The diplomats, speaking on condition of anonymity because the consultations were closed, said members didn't discuss Ban's proposal to deploy "a coalition of the willing" instead.

The secretary-general, speaking to reporters after the council meeting, said "my recommendation was that a peacekeeping operation is not an option at this time."

Ban said the Somalia situation has to be addressed on two tracks — promoting a dialogue between the transitional government and opposition leaders with the aim of national reconciliation and helping the African Union force with money and equipment so it can operate more effectively.

"These are two tracks which I'm going to promote, and I'm now working on this strategic assessment, how we should deal with this Somalia situation," he said, adding that this will include sending assessment teams to Somalia.

Somalia has not had a functioning government since clan-based warlords toppled dictator Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991 and then turned on each other, sinking the poverty-stricken Horn of Africa nation of seven million people into chaos.

The rout last December of the Islamic fundamentalist movement that controlled most of Somalia by Somali government troops and Ethiopian soldiers allowed the country's weak U.N.-backed transitional government to enter the capital, Mogadishu, for the first time since it was established in 2004. But heavy fighting between insurgents and Ethiopian troops has flared again, leaving hundreds dead and wounded.

The U.N. authorized the African Union to send an 8,000-strong peacekeeping force to Somalia in February to calm the country, but only 1,800 troops from Uganda are on the ground.

The Security Council expressed support for the AU force and urged greater international assistance to strengthen it.

Council members also expressed "strong concern about the deteriorating political, security and humanitarian situation" and called on all parties "to renounce violence and to engage in an all-inclusive peace process."

South Africa 's U.N. Ambassador Dumisani Kumalo, calling the situation in Somalia "heartbreaking," said "the U.N. has to find a way to go in there."

The (U.N.) Charter says maintain international peace and security everywhere," he said. "It doesn't say except in Somalia."

Source: AP