Dr. Shamsul Bari said civilians continue to bear the brunt of the fighting between Transitional Federal Government forces and Islamist armed groups.

Dr. Bari, who visited Kenya and Somalia earlier this month, described grave violations of women's and children's rights. They include the recruitment and use of children by several parties to the conflict. He said corporal punishment in the name of Sharia Law by such groups, including floggings and amputations, arbitrary detention, death threats and intimidation are reportedly taking place

The UN expert said the Islamist Forces fighting to topple the Transitional Federal Government, the TFG, are reported to have carried out extrajudicial executions, planted mines, bombs and other explosive devices in civilian areas, and used civilians as human shields. Fighters from both sides are reported to have fired mortars indiscriminately into areas populated or frequented by civilians."

During his visit to Kenya and Somalia, the Independent Expert met for the first time with TFG's President, Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, and members of his government, in the Kenyan capital Nairobi. Dr. Bari was unable to visit Mogadishu and the South and Central part of the country due to security constraints.

Font: BBC