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Saturday, February 21, 2009
The African Union peacekeeping mission in Somalia has rejected clerics' proposal for the withdrawal of foreign troops within 120 days.
Maj. Barigiye Bahoku, spokesman for the AMISOM forces in Mogadishu, said Saturday that the calls were unreasonable since the newly-formed unity government would be in need of support, a Press TV correspondent reported.
"AMISOM troops will be sent back to their countries once the country is stable. But not now," Bahoku said.
However, the spokesman urged the militants to heed Somali clerics' calls for a stop to the attack against the peacekeepers in the capital of Mogadishu.
His remarks came at the backdrop of a fresh wave of attacks targeting soldiers' bases in Mogadishu.
At least one civilian was killed and three others were wounded on Friday after AMISOM troops and insurgents exchanged heavy gunfire following an ambush on their base in the conflict-torn capital.
Separately, a roadside bomb exploded next to an AU military convoy at a check point in south Mogadishu. The army vehicle was destroyed but no casualties were reported.
The peacekeeper's mission ends this month. The African Union on Monday decided to extend the mandate for the 34,000 strong force by another two months, reports said.
Source: PressTV, Feb 21, 2009