US envoy rules out military base in Somalia

The United States yesterday denied claims that it planned to set up a military base in Somalia after getting rid of “terrorists.” The US ambassador to Kenya, Mr Michael Rannerberger, maintained that Washington’s long term interest was to ensure that stability was restored in the war-torn country. The envoy also denied media reports that scores of Somali civilians had been killed in air raids by the US military operating from the Somali coast, on the Indian Ocean. Mr Rannerberger insisted that there were no civilian casualties in early this week’s air strike in the Horn of African country by US forces pursuing senior al Queda suspect Fazul Abdullah Mohammed, accused of being behind the 1998 terrorist attacks on the Nairobi and Dar es Salaam US embassies. The envoy said they believed that Mr Mohammed was killed in the strike, but could not give further details. He maintained that their military operation was specifically to eliminate a Mr Mohammed. Asked about his country’s military strategy in the Horn of Africa, Mr Rannerberger said the US had no troops on the ground and had no plans to set up a military base in that country. He was addressing reporters at the US embassy. He said the US was working closely with Kenya, Ethiopia and the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia to restore stability in the Horn of Africa country. The envoy called on the Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf and his government to embrace dialogue with all peace-loving parties in the country. The Ethiopian forces have been in the country since December 24 to drive away the Islamic Courts Union leaders and their forces. Mr Rannerberger denied press reports that the US was planning to occupy Somalia. “We have pledged to give Somalia $40 million in development and humanitarian aid. The Ugandan Government has pledged to donate troops for peace-keeping. This is a positive effort,” Mr Rannerberger said. On the controversial arrest of some Somali MPs by the Kenyan authorities for opposing the invasion of their country by the Ethiopian forces, Mr Rannerberger said he was optimistic that the “misunderstanding” would be resolved amicably. Meanwhile, The Release Political Prisoners (RPP) has condemned the mass attacks and killings of Somali people by the American military. “The African countries should not tolerate these unsubstantiated attacks and claims that America is destroying and eradicating all the al Qaeda networks,” the group said in a statement. The Government yesterday played down reports that Kenyans were among those killed in the US attack in Somalia. Dr Alfred Mutua, the Government spokesman, said: “We do not have any reports of people being killed in Somalia. We are not aware of any Kenyans being killed there.”