UNITED NADONS. Nov 10: UN Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali stepped up his campaign to rid Somalia of chaos and starvation, urging the world not to abandon the East African nation "before our work Is done,' reports AP

The United Nations chiefs plea Tuesday came a day after his claph with US Secretary of State Warren Christopher over Washington's speeded-up withdrawal from Somalia.

Boutros-Ghali Is waging a public relations campaign for a commitment to remain in Somalia and ensure tts political and economic stability The United States, stung by the death of 18 American troops tn Somalia, plans to withdraw all Its troops by March 31.

There are now 7,500 US troops In Mogadishu, and another 8,650 remain offshore.

One UN official said

Boutros-Ghali expressed to Christopher his concern about what happens after the Americans pull out. Another said Boutros Ohalt cited a snowball effect" tn which most of the other countries with troops In Somalia plan to follow the United States In withdraw Ing. creating a "large, gaping vacuum." Both officials spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity

UN political affairs and peacekeeping aides will get a chance to review the problems Wednesday, when they meet at headquarters with Robert Oakley, the Clinton administration's envoy to Somalia

The meetings are part of an effort to allay Boutros Ghali s concern that Oakley at least has been duplicating and aj worst been undermining UN peacemaking efforts in Somalia

The issue is coming to a head because the mandate for

the 26,000-strong UN force expires November 18. Boutros Ghali is expected to make his recommendations about how to cope with the American withdrawal and revise the mandate in a report to the Security Council this week

He expressed his concerns to the African American Institute tn New York on Tuesday night. In his prepared remarks, the UN chief cast doubt on whether the international community has the political will to fulfill tts duties in Somalia

The international community must not give up on places like Somalia, he said In a reference to the US pullout, he added, 'Let us not abandon Somalia before out work Is done ‘

President Clinton has said the United States will try hard to restore stability to Somalia before the withdrawal Wa

shlngton Is urging the United Nations to take the heat off Gen Mohamed Farrah Aideed wanted in a June 5 attack on Pakistani peacekeepers

The United States also has joined Aideed In urging the United Nations to release 43 remaining Somali detainees. Including three of his top aides They were captured October 3, sparking the 15-hour firefight that killed 18 US soldiers, one Malaysian peacekeeper and an estimated 300 Somalis.

Sixteen detainees were freed overnight Saturday

Other moves the United States Is suggesting to restore stability Include establishing a commission to Investigate the killing of the Pakistanis, creat Ing a Somali police force, and holding an International humanitarian aid conference for Somalia in Addis Ababa. Ethiopia, on November 29