The African Union is likely to accept a request by Somalia's new President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed for a peacekeeping force of up to 20,000, but details have to be worked out, a senior official of the organization said. An African Union fact-finding mission will go to conflict-ravaged Somalia next month as part of a process of drawing up a concrete peacekeeping plan, said Said Djinnit, African Union commissioner for peace and security. "I am convinced and confident that the Peace and Security Council will in principle accept to support the request to undertake some peace support operations in Somalia to support institutions," Djinnit said before the council began discussing Yusuf's request Monday.
