The United Nations on Friday refused to comment on press reports that thousands of Ethiopian and Eritrean troops were in Somalia backing rival sides battling for control of the lawless country.
Asked to comment on reports citing a confidential UN report as saying that 6,000 to 8,000 Ethiopians and 2,000 Eritrean troops were operating inside Somalia, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric replied: "We do not comment on leaks or reportedly leaked documents which we can't authenticate."
"We are not in a position to verify these reports or comment on any presence of foreign troops in Somalia," he added.
Dujarric stressed that UN chief Kofi Annan believes that "the solution in Somalia is political and not military" and urges the Somali parties to settle their differences through dialogue."
He added that Annan's message to all of Somalia's neighbours was "to avoid any action that could further aggravate the situation" and to abide by the UN arms embargo currently in place.
The arms embargo on Somalia has been in effect since 1992, a year after dictator Mohamed Siad Barre was ousted, leaving the country without a functioning central authority.
Ethiopia has confirmed it has sent military trainers and advisers to Somalia to help the weak transitional Somali government in its battle with powerful extremist forces. But it has denied reports of thousands of its uniformed soldiers on Somali territory.
On Tuesday, Somalia's extremist claimed to have captured an Ethiopian officer in clashes that killed at least 51 people north of the southern port of Kismayo, but Addis Ababa has not responded to the allegations.
Ethiopia has vowed to protect itself and the Somali government from the "jihadists," whom it accuses of links with Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network.
The extremist deny this, insisting their sole aim is to restore stability in Somalia.