By Aaron Maasho
Friday, April 01, 2011
Fighting between Somali government troops and al Shabaab Islamist insurgents has forced hundreds of thousands to flee the lawless Horn of Africa nation, with Kenya hosting more than 500,000 in several camps.
"Kenya is concerned about the fluid and unpredictable situation in Somalia," President Mwai Kibaki said during a meeting with U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon late on Thursday.
"I look forward to the U.N. Security Council playing its rightful role in ending the protracted internal strife in Somalia for the sake of millions of innocent people," Kibaki said.
Ban is in Kenya to launch a progress report on the fight against HIV and AIDS, as well as for talks with Kenyan and U.N. officials.
Al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab rebels have been fighting Somalia's interim government since 2007, and have been threatening to attack Kenya in retaliation for its support of the administration.
Kenyan security officials said on Wednesday they repelled an attack on a police station by al Shabaab fighters who were trying to steal arms, the latest in a series of attacks along the frontier.
Al Shabaab controls large swathes of central and southern Somalia, which has not had an effective central government since the 1991 overthrow of dictator Mohamed Siad Barre.
But government troops and allied militia have been fighting back for control of some towns.
In the latest push, government troops backed by fighters from the pro-government Ahlu Sunna Waljamaca group attacked and retook control of Dobley town in the south early on Friday.
"We have been hearing heavy shelling and gunfire since 5 am," town resident Daud Ali told Reuters by phone as fighting raged.
"Both sides are indiscriminate while firing. We are forced to move inside (our homes) since the Kenya side is a no-go zone for us," he said. (Editing by Helen Nyambura and Louise Ireland).
Source: Reuters