* Report blames both militants and Somali forces for abuses
* U.N. urges enforcement of ban on Somalia charcoal trade
UNITED NATIONS, June 3 (Reuters) - The number of children killed, maimed, abused and recruited to fight in Somalia dropped by more than half in the first quarter of 2013 due to less fighting between Islamist al-Shabaab militants and government forces, the United Nations said on Monday.
In a report to the U.N. Security Council on Somalia, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said there had been 552 verified "grave violations" against children between January and March, down from 1,288 cases during the same period in 2012.
Almost two-thirds of the violations were committed by al Shabaab militants, who affiliated themselves with al Qaeda in February last year, while the rest were blamed on the Somali National Security Forces, the report said.
"The downward trend in killing, maiming and recruitment are attributed to the decrease in open fighting between al-Shabaab and government forces, while the rate of abductions remains worryingly high," Ban said in the report.
"The (Somali forces) and allied militia were the main perpetrators of killings while al-Shabaab committed the most abductions, recruitments, sexual violence and attacks on schools," he said.
The United Nations said 37 children had been killed, 63 children maimed, 219 recruited to fight, 19 sexually abused and 205 abducted, while there had been seven attacks on schools and one on a hospital.
Somali troops are in the process of releasing 41 children to the U.N. children's agency, UNICEF, for reintegration and the United Nations is working with the Somali government to stop the recruitment, use, killing and maiming of children, the report said.
"Civilians continue to bear the brunt of continued fighting in Somalia," Ban said.
Somalia is emerging from two decades of anarchy, and security gains in the past two years have been made largely thanks to African peacekeepers spearheading the fight against al Shabaab.
An African Union peacekeeping force - made up of troops from Uganda, Burundi, Kenya and Ethiopia - is battling al Shabaab militants on several fronts in Somalia and has forced them to abandon significant territory in southern and central areas.
The militants launched their campaign against the government in 2007, seeking to impose sharia, or strict Islamic law, on the entire country.
Ban said in his report that he was concerned that the peacekeeping mission was "reaching the limits of its operational capacity within existing resources, in terms of holding and territory and expanding areas under its control."
In March, Ethiopian troops unexpectedly withdrew from Hudur, the capital of Bakool province near the Ethiopian border, enabling al Shabaab to retake the dusty town. Ethiopia has said it will withdraw its troops from Somalia because of frustration with the Mogadishu government and the peacekeeping mission.
Ban urged countries to provide additional resources to the 17,600-strong U.N.-mandated African Union peacekeeping mission.
The Somali government is struggling to strengthen its poorly equipped, ill-disciplined military, which is more a collection of rival militias than a cohesive fighting force.
Ban also urged countries "to do their utmost to enforce the (Security) Council's embargo on Somali charcoal, which remains a major source of revenue for al-Shabaab." The 15-member council banned the sale abroad of Somali charcoal in February 2012.
The Security Council's Monitoring Group on Somalia and Eritrea, an independent panel that reports on compliance with U.N. sanctions, said charcoal exports from southern Somalia in 2011 generated more than $25 million for al Shabaab. (Editing by Mohammad Zargham)
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.