By ROBERT F. WORTH

The report, which was disclosed by Reuters on Monday, appears to be the first indication that foreign fighters assisted Hezbollah during the 34-day conflict, when Israel maintained a tight blockade on Lebanon.

The report also says Iran sought to trade arms for uranium from Somalia to further its nuclear ambitions, though it does not say whether Iran succeeded.

The 86-page report was issued by four experts monitoring violations of a 1992 United Nations arms embargo on Somalia, which was put in place after the country lapsed into civil war and remains in effect. The report is to be discussed Friday at the Security Council.

The panel does not say how the information was obtained. But the members had access to information from the intelligence agencies of the Security Council’s 15 current members, including Britain, France, China, Russia and the United States, a United Nations official said.

Any involvement by Somalis would be surprising because Hezbollah’s effectiveness is widely attributed to its deep familiarity with the region.

Hezbollah officials could not be reached Tuesday night for comment.

An official at the Israeli mission to the United Nations said he had not seen the report, and was not aware of any Somali fighters having taken part in the conflict with Hezbollah. The official asked not to be identified, citing diplomatic protocol.

While the sources of the information remain unclear, the report is dense with details about arms shipments to the groups vying for power in Somalia.

It states that in mid-July, Aden Hashi Farah, a leader of the Somali Islamist alliance, personally selected about 720 combat-hardened fighters to travel to Lebanon and fight alongside Hezbollah.

At least 100 Somalis had returned by early September — with five Hezbollah members — while others stayed on in Lebanon for advanced military training, the report says. It is not clear how many may have been killed, though the report says some were wounded and later treated after their return to Somalia.

The fighters were paid a minimum of $2,000 for their service, the report says, and as much as $30,000 was to be given to the families of those killed, with money donated by “a number of supporting countries.”

In addition to training some Somali militants, Hezbollah “arranged for additional support to be given” by Iran and Syria, including weapons, the report found. On July 27, 200 Somali fighters also traveled to Syria to be trained in guerrilla warfare, the report says.

It also indicates that Iran appears to have sought help in its quest for uranium in Dusa Mareb, the hometown of Sheik Hassan Dahir Aweys, the leader of the Islamist alliance in Somalia, which is known as the Council of Islamic Courts.

“At the time of the writing of this report, there were two Iranians in Dusa Mareb engaged on matters linked to the exploration of uranium in exchange for arms” for the Council of Islamic Courts, says the report, which is dated Oct. 16.

Those claims, if proved, could worsen global tensions over Iran’s nuclear program. Iran ignored an Aug. 31 deadline to suspend its uranium enrichment, and the United States has been leading a United Nations effort to impose sanctions.

The United Nations report is focused mostly on the increasingly volatile situation in Somalia, where Islamists took control of the capital, Mogadishu, in June from warlords backed by the United States.

Not only has the volume of arms flowing into Somalia grown, according to the authors, but more sophisticated weapons like surface-to-air missiles are being brought in. The conflict could grow into a regional war, with Somalia’s neighbors, Ethiopia and Eritrea, backing opposing sides.

The report also accuses Djibouti, Egypt, Iran, Libya, Saudi Arabia and Syria of supplying the Somali Islamists with arms, advisers and fighters. It says three nations — Ethiopia, Uganda and Yemen — are aligned with the so-called transitional government based in Baidoa, an inland city.

Asked about violations of the arms embargo, the report states, officials in those countries either denied any involvement or failed to answer.

The report recommends that the Security Council blockade Somalia. It also warns urgently against sending any peacekeepers to the country, saying such a force could become “the catalyst that sparks a serious military confrontation between the opposing sides.”

Source: New York Times, Nov 15, 2006

Nuuradiin @ 11/17/2006 11:03 AM EST   We know the UN report on Somalia is totally untrue, but we (Somalis) need to ask who prepared this report and the reason behind the report. We also know that western nation their alliance in Africa always build a coalition before attacking or invading other nations; and this is one way they could do that. We know that Ethiopia, US, and other nations supported the run away alliance which fought with the Islamic Courts in June, but the report did not mention this, why? It’s ok Ethiopia to send its troops into Somalia although current an army embargo is on Somalia, but the UN report did not mention this, why? We know that Somalia had problems since 1990 and the world didn’t care about this poor nation, but when an Islamic power rose up to bring law an order into effect, they are tourists why? Its ok other nations to help each other and when Islamic nation helps their fellow brothers; it’s violation Why? Why can’t any Islamic nation rule their people under the Islamic law? Why do they car us now when they did not helped us before? Who is the United Nations by the way and who controls them? Why can’t the Islamic nations speak out and say something about this unfairness? And most importantly why are we (Somalis) divided when we know that we are all brothers and sisters? Well, to answer all of these questions need more time and space, but I have to say the answers are easy for those who understand. Let’s just pray for our nation and support each other against any enemies. May Allah help those who think about better Somalia and those who die for the sake of their nation; may Allah help and give a good reward to those who loves his book and those who want to live in peace and prosperity.

shabeel @ 11/16/2006 3:32 AM EST  The UNITED NATIONS became IDAMAALE! it is unbelievable how they could come up with this and call it an Intelligence? 700 Somalis fought along Hizbollah and Israel didn't even nap one? Somalis must be super unvisible and invicible warriors! damn... those experts( fools) who boldly came up with this should be fired!

xaggar @ 11/16/2006 12:07 AM EST  Does it worth to be member of the so called UN, which stands for unabashed Nations? Absolutely no It is time for those developing countries to think twice and balance the advantage the gains and lose of this evil organization.   Khaliif Mahad

xaggar @ 11/15/2006 11:58 PM EST  This and it does worth to be member of the so called UN, which stands for unabashed Nations? It is time those developing countries to think twice and balance the advantage and the disadvantage of this evil organization. Khaliif Mahad

cabdi @ 11/15/2006 4:56 PM EST  Kofi, you have failed us since you came to power. I though as an african, you will help Somalia but all that is coming out of this body are fabrications and all resolutions veto 'd by less than 1 percent member. This is not an inclusive body. Its office in Nairobi was long blamed for misinformation and to keep it operating. This a big lie. The world should not listen to this madness. How would somalis fight for Hizbullah. You cant help clean another ones house when your own house is in a mess? Do they think we are crazy? Hizbullah are stronger well organised, secretive organisation that wont even allow Some Lebanese as its members, what do you think of Somalis, who cant even get their acts together making their beautiful country a failed state for 16 years. Muslims should set up another body called "Our World" where all are equal and no one has a veto. Resolutions are by votes. The more votes the winner - that is democratic. The union of islamic courts should question teh UN for this report. Let them send their Foreign office man Prof Adow to speaks with his American accent.