From: Yemane Natnael (yemane_natnael@yahoo.com)
Date: Tue Sep 16 2008 - 09:04:32 EDT
Uganda to deploy fresh troops in Somalia amidst increased attacks
KAMPALA, Sept. 15 2008 (Xinhua) -- The Ugandan military
is to replace the 1,600 peacekeepers in volatile Somalia with a new
contingent amidst increased attacks on the force, a military spokesman
has said.
Maj. Paddy Ankunda, Uganda People's
Defense Force spokesman told Xinhua by telephone on Monday that the new
contingent, which is to be deployed 'soon', has finalized its training
and is ready for Somalia.
"The attacks won't affect our
deployment," said Ankunda, confirming reports that two Ugandan
peacekeepers have been killed by Islamic militants in the last two
days.
The militants are reported to have
killed one peacekeeper on Monday, a day after the other was killed
while on routine patrol in the capital of Mogadishu, bringing the
number of those dead to seven since the East African country deployed
in Somalia in March 2007.
Ankunda said the redeployment is a
requirement by the African Union (AU) that forces on a peace keeping
mission are rotated after every three months.
Uganda last month called for UN
intervention in the lawless horn of African country, noting other
African countries which promised to send troops have failed to honor
their pledge and yet the situation is deteriorating.
The AU authorized the deployment of
8,000 troops but only 2,600peacekeepers from Uganda and Burundi are on
the ground amidst escalating violence.
Since the Somali government backed
by Ethiopian troops ousted the Islamist in December 2006, the militants
have resorted to carrying out almost daily attacks against Ethiopian
troops, Somali government forces and AU peacekeepers.
Somalia has lacked an effective central authority since the 1991 ouster of military strongman Mohamed Siad Barre.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-09/15/content_10022036.htm
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