A minister accused the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) of breaking a ceasefire agreed at the last talks in Sudan. Meanwhile, the UN Security Council has said it is ready to lift an arms embargo and back a peacekeeping team.

The Islamists strongly oppose foreign peacekeepers, which the government says are needed to ensure security. Earlier this week, the Islamists tightened their grip on Mogadishu and much of southern Somalia by driving one of the last remaining warlords from the city.

'Extreme views'

Abdi Qeybdid fled to Baidoa, where the government is based, 200km from Mogadishu. He has held talks with interim President Abdullahi Yusuf but it is not clear what was discussed.

The government earlier this week said it would not hold talks with hardline elements of the UIC, saying they were linked to al-Qaeda.

"The Islamic group has extreme views which cannot go with the world's civilized and democratic system," cabinet minister Isma'il Mohamud Hurre told the Associated Press news agency on Friday.

UIC leaders deny the accusations that they are linked to al-Qaeda and have foreign fighters with them. In Jowhar, UIC authorities have released from prison at least 40 people arrested during protests over the imposition of new taxes.

One person was shot dead during Wednesday's protests. This is the first time the UIC has tried to impose taxes in the areas it has taken control of in rapid advances during the past two months.

Somalia has not had an effective national government in 15 years. There are fears of confrontation between the government and the UIC. Ethiopia and the US are believed to be sympathetic to the government