KHARTOUM — A Somali minister said yesterday war in his country appeared likely and talks between the government and Islamists were postponed with mediators urging the Horn of Africa nation's rivals to exercise restraint.After both sides failed to meet face-to-face in three days of Arab League-sponsored discussions in Sudan, the Islamists called for a delay and an international fact-finding mission to be sent to the chaotic country to resolve "fundamental issues".

Mediators including the Arab League, European Union and African Union said in a statement later that more consultation was needed and urged both parties to exercise restraint.

The international community was committed "to continue assisting (them) in sustaining their talks in Khartoum as soon as possible upon consultation with all the parties", it said. "The parties are urged to exercise full restraint and commit themselves to previous agreements," including ceasing military and media campaigns and respecting principles of peaceful coexistence and non-interference in others' internal affairs.

The government's foreign minister, Ismail Hurre Buba, had earlier denounced the Islamists as no longer partners for peace.

"I think it's more likely than not ... that is a miscalculation that maybe the Islamists are making," he told Reuters in London when asked whether war was likely.

"These are people who want the area to explode," he added, referring to the Islamists. "I'm sure that the Somali people will join together to end this kind of madness."