18.10.11

Aventura queniana no Sul da Somália

Kenyan troops with aerial support are continuing their advance into Somalia towards a town 120km (75 miles) from its border held by al-Shabab militants.
The Kenyan government wants to push the militants away from its border following a spate of kidnappings it blames on the Islamist insurgent group.
Kenya's army spokesman Maj Emmannuel Chirchir told AFP the forces were expected to reach Afmadow on Tuesday.
Al-Shabab has warned of attacks in Kenya unless the troops withdraw.
The hard-line group, which controls much of southern Somalia, has denied carrying out any abductions.
It is locked in a battle with the transitional government for control of parts of the country currently outside its power, particularly in the capital Mogadishu.
The UN-backed government in Mogadishu has refused to admit that the Kenyan troops are inside Somalia.
But BBC East Africa correspondent Will Ross says sources indicate that Somali government troops are working in tandem with the Kenyans in order to attack the al-Shabab-controlled areas.
Eyewitnesses say al-Shabab officials have forced truck owners to hand over their vehicles so that fighters can be moved towards Afmadow.
Our reporter says the progress of Kenya and Somali troops has been slowed by muddy terrain after heavy rain.
Afmadow is about 90km on the main road north of the port city of Kismayo, al-Shabab's main economic power base.

'Digging trenches'

Afmadow resident Hussein Osman Roble told Reuters news agency most people in the town had fled towards the Kenyan border.
"Jets have flown low over Afmadow, terrifying the residents, while al-Shabab is digging trenches and tunnels for defence inside and around Afmadow," he said.
The government controls very little territory, but does have several militant groups around the country it regards as allies, and it is backed by the international community.
Kenyan officials said they wanted to ensure al-Shabab militants were not able to operate anywhere near the two countries' shared border.
Nairobi has been infuriated by a string of abductions of foreign nationals near the border.
BBC

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