The Islamic Courts Union's security forces patrol the streets of Bermuda village in the Wagberi district of central Mogadishu, Somalia. Photograph by Reuters. 

A new report by the UN Monitoring Group on Somalia names 10 countries that have allegedly supplied arms or support to political groups in Somalia and violated a 16 year-old UN arms embargo on the country.

The document reportedly states that Syria, Iran, Eritrea, Libya and Saudi Arabia have sent small arms and/or ammunition to the Islamic Courts Union (ICU) based in Mogadishu. Ethiopia, Uganda and Yemen have allegedly supplied small arms to the the interim government, which is currently located in Baidoa. Egypt and Djibouti are accused of providing supplies and support to the ICU.

According to the report, states and private arms brokers are transporting arms into the country in cargo aircraft and ocean-going dhows. Most of the weapons supplied are machine guns, assault rifles, rocket-propelled grenades, anti-tank and anti-aircraft guns and mines.

The full report has not yet been officially released but was leaked to the media last week. The UN Security Council was scheduled to discuss the findings and their implications on Friday 17 October.

BBC article: Threat of regional conflict over Somalia