A delegation of religious leaders mainly from the Horn of Africa, who have visited strife-torn Somalia, have stressed that a solution to the crisis there lies within the country and not outside. The Pope has also called for peace.

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African church leaders at the World Social Forum in Nairobi urged governments to use the surrender of the leader of the Union of Islamic Courts of Somalia, Sheikh Sharif Ahmed, as the basis for a peace initiative for the war torn country - writes Fredrick Nzwili for Ecumenical News Interational.

The general secretary of the All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC), the Rev Dr Mvume Dandala, has used the occasion of a major theological conference to call for practical steps towards reconciliation and peace in conflict-torn Somalia.

Ethiopian soldiers occupying Somalia have been accused of raping Somali woman, according to reports circulating among church and development NGOs in the region. Observers are waiting for details to be confirmed.

Conflict in Somalia is fuelling fears of a new refugee crisis, according to Norwegian Church Aid (NCA), a development agency with considerable experience in the region.

Recent US air strikes against militants in Somalia will do little to bring peace and security to the region, says leading UK-based international development agency Christian Aid.

Kenyan Anglican Archbishop Benjamin Nzimbi has urged his government to reconsider a decision earlier this week to close its borders to refugees from neighbouring strife-torn Somalia - writes Fredrick Nzwili for Ecumenical News International.

After the intervention of the Ethiopian troops, the situation in Somalia continues to be very tense, with the Islamic Courts Union (ICU) refusing a government offer for amnesty, say church agencies working in the region.