Italy's deputy army chief vowed Friday his nation would not obey U.N. demands to immediately replace the controversial commander of 2,400 Italian peacekeepers or remove them from the capital.
Gen. Mario Buscemi appeared set on challenging U.N. officials within minutes of arriving in Somalia. He said he supported talks with Somali gunmen, whom the United Nations has branded as terrorists."The only way to carry on the peace mission is with negotiations," said Buscemi, Italy's second-ranking army officer.
Buscemi was scheduled to meet Saturday with U.N. special envoy Jonathan Howe, who has denounced Italian peacekeepers for meeting with armed clansmen of fugitive warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid.
Italy has been at the forefront of nations who have criticized the U.N.'s handling of operations in Somalia, saying the humanitarian mission has been sidelined by aggressive military tactics against Aidid and rival warlords.
Buscemi told reporters his government also would not remove Gen. Bruno Loi from his command of the Italian peacekeepers. "We have full confidence in him and he will stay," he said.
Italian officials, possibly seeking a face-saving measure, say they had planned to replace Loi on Sept. 1 in a normal rotation.
Buscemi said the rift with U.N. headquarters in Somalia arose from differences in the interpretation of a Security Council mandate to enforce peace in the impoverished east African nation.
He denied Loi had disobeyed U.N. orders, saying Loi had instead carried them out "nearer to our point of view."