September 10, 2009 (Reuters) - Somalia's President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed held talks with his counterpart in Djibouti on Wednesday to discuss strengthening a peacekeeping force based in the anarchic Somali capital Mogadishu.

There are just over 5,000 African Union (AU) peacekeepers from Uganda and Burundi helping Ahmed's government battle a stubborn insurgency by Islamist militants. Somali officials want the AU mission replaced by a tougher U.N. force.   

"Before the upcoming U.N. General Assembly (Sept 15-30), we need to get the region's support for our proposed future U.N. peace mission to Somalia," Abdulkadir Osman, Ahmed's spokesman, told Reuters by telephone from Djibouti.   

The AU troops have been able to do little more than guard the Somali capital's presidential palace, sea port, airport and a few streets in between. They have frequently been targeted by insurgent mortar shells and roadside bombs.   

Ahmed has repeatedly called for the AU mission to be strengthened and given a tougher mandate, and Osman said he would discuss that with Djibouti's Ismail Omar Guelleh.   

"The two presidents will discuss boosting the number of the African mission, and changing their mandate to engage in a more active role," the spokesman said.   

AID EMERGENCY   Osman said Ahmed would also attend the passing-out of more than 1,000 Somali troops who have been trained in Djibouti.   

Ahmed, a former Islamist rebel, was elected in January at U.N.-hosted peace talks in Djibouti the 15th attempt to restore central government to Somalia since 1991. 

Western security agencies say the lawless Horn of Africa nation has become a safe haven for militants including foreign jihadists who are plotting attacks in the region and beyond.