US Providing 'Urgent'
Arms Aid to Somali Government
The
State Department said Thursday the United States is providing urgent
military aid to Somalia's Transitional Federal Government, the TFG,
to help it repel what is termed an "onslaught" by Islamist rebels.
U.S. officials are al so renewing their criticism of alleged
Eritrean support for Somali extremi sts.
The Obama administration, which has given strong political support
to the besieged Somali administration, is backing that up with an
emergency shipment of weapons and ammunition help prevent a militant
takeover of the chronically-unstable African state.
The U.S. arms aid, first reported Thursday by the Washington Post
newsp aper, was confirmed by State Department spokesman Ian Kelly,
who said the supplies were being conveyed to the TFG on an urgent
basis in respo nse to an appeal by the Mogadishu authorities.
He said the TFG faces an "onslaught" by extremist forces intent on
destro ying the U.N. sponsored Djibouti peace process for Somalia
and spoiling eff orts to bring peace and stability to the
country through political reconci liation.
"We
think that this government, the Tra nsitional Federal
government, represents Somalia's best chance for peace stability and
reconciliation. This government is the best chance that they've had
in the last 18 years," he said. "And in addition to this threat to
the government, this kind of violence is causing real suffering for
the Somali people and its just prolonging the chaos and preventing
the country from getting on stable footings," Kelly added.
US State
Dept. spokesman Ian Kelly
points to a reporter at a press briefing
at the State Dept., Washington (File)
The Somali administration issued an urgent plea for international
aid inc luding troops last weekend as the heaviest fighting in
months engulfed the capital and other regions, killing more than 200
people including the TFG security minister.
The United Nations backed interim administration is opposed by a
coalition of several Islamist groups, the most prominent being the
al-Shabab militia, which has alleged ties to al-Qaida and is listed
by the United States as a terrorist group.
U.S. and Somali officials say foreign militants from several Muslim
countries are fighting alongside al-Shabab, and spokesman Kelly
reiterated U.S. concern that Eritrea has been helping the rebels.
"We think they are providing material support including financing to
some of these extremist groups, most particularly al-Shabab. We've
taken these concerns up with the government of Eritrea,: he said. "I
want to emph asize that we remain open to trying to improve
relations with Eritrea. But this country's support -- Eritrea's
support -- for al-Shabab and other extremist groups is a serious
obstacle to any improvement that we can make," he stressed.
Kelly offered no details of the military aid being sent to Somalia
but insist ed it is in accordance with relevant U.N. Security
Council resolutions aimed at curbing arms traffic to Somali
combatants.
News reports say it consists of small arms and ammunition being sent
in fr om nearby African countries, which in turn are being
reimbursed by the United States.
Somalia has not had an effective central government since the early
199 0's. Rebels have been making gains since Ethiopian troops, who
intervened in 2006, left the country early this year.
Source:VOA
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