By Abdi Sheikh MOGADISHU, Feb 28 (Reuters) - The United Nations urged Somalis living abroad to condemn violent insurgents and support President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed's new administration as it meets in Mogadishu for the first time on Saturday. Ahmed is trying to form an inclusive unity government that will be the 15th attempt in 18 years to bring stability to the failed Horn of Africa state, which Washington fears could become a safe haven for extremists linked to al Qaeda. Rebels including the hardline Islamist al Shabaab group attacked government forces and African Union (AU) peacekeepers on Tuesday and Wednesday, triggering the city's heaviest battles in weeks. More than 80 people, mostly civilians, were killed. In an open letter to the Somali diaspora, U.N. envoy Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah said the return of ministers to Mogadishu proved progress towards peace was being made faster than most Somalis, or the international community, had dared hope. "Please tell those wanting Somalia to remain a divided country at the bottom of the heap to stop and focus on the peace process, on themselves, on their families and people to whom they bring only misery," Ould-Abdallah said. More than 16,000 civilians have been killed in Somalia's two-year-old insurgency, a million have been driven from their homes, more than a third of the population depend on aid, and large parts of the capital lie empty and ruined by shell fire. Al Shabaab gained support as one of many rebel groups fighting Ethiopian troops who were propping up the previous government. An Ethiopian withdrawal in January placated some Somalis, but al Shabaab has now turned its fire on the small AU peacekeeping mission, AMISOM, and Ahmed's new government. Ould-Abdallah accused the insurgents of being jealous of Ahmed's success, and said they would not be allowed to continue murdering and kidnapping at will. "Previously they may have killed their compatriots and watched the international community simply organise a new conference to discuss Somalia again and again," he said. "However this is the past. Your people, their friends and neighbours are tired of this endless bloodletting. They will not accept it anymore and nor will the international community." (Writing by Daniel Wallis)
A man wounded after being caught in crossfire is assisted by civilians to Madina hospital in Somalia's capital Mogadishu February 24, 2009. At least 13 people were killed and scores wounded ...
