The team of 20 senior diplomats and representatives from inter-governmental bodies has flown back to Kenya. They were accused by two of the main warlords, Hussein Aidid and Ali Mahdi Mohamed, of trying to divide the people of Somalia.

Warlords fight for control

The fact-finding mission was seen as the first concerted international attempt for four years to find a political solution to the country's fighting.

But the warlords said factional violence could erupt if the delegation was welcomed by Mogadishu police.

"We don't trust the delegation as a fact-finding mission capable of helping the Somalis to reconcile. They obviously came here to divide our people. Therefore, we don't need their presence," Ali Mahdi told journalists.

The officials - from Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Italy, Norway, Uganda and Yemen - said they were seeking to encourage grassroots political activity to fill the power vacuum.

Hunger threatens Somalia

Since the overthrow of the dictator Siyad Barre in 1991, rival clans have been fighting for control of the country. Somalia now has no state institutions and has one of the poorest records in the world for education and child mortality.

Somali feeding centre: Hunger is spreading

The south of the country is also suffering from a growing food emergency.

A combination of dramatic flooding and drought has badly affected crops throughout the region.

BBC East Africa Correspondent Martin Dawes, who visited the area, reports seeing hundreds of people queuing at a feeding centre in Badera for small bags of high protein mix. Roger Carter of the UN children's fund Unicef says these people represent the tip of an iceberg.

People want peace

Fighting has also increased the refugee problem. In the last few days 400 families have joined a camp for displaced people outside Badera.

Worried about child's future

The impending food crisis has accelerated diplomatic efforts to encourage peace in Somalia. Enough international aid has been promised for UN agencies to provide for the 300,000 people said to be at risk over the next few months.