Thursday, October 27, 2011
"They want to talk," said the official, who did not want to be named because he is not authorized to talk to the media.
The Kenyan air force struck several Al-Shabaab training sites early Monday, a military spokesman said.
The revelation comes a day after Somalia praised Kenya for helping battle the extremist group. The nation's president thanked Kenya for working with the Somali transitional government "to stabilize Somalia" and training its soldiers as well as hosting (a) huge number of Somali refugees."
Kenyan forces entered Somalia on October 15 in a strike on Al-Shabaab, a Somali militant group that Kenya blames for recent kidnappings of foreigners in the nation.
The Kenyan forces are ultimately seeking to take the Somali port city of Kismayo, described by the United Nations as a key stronghold and source of cash for Al-Shabaab. The United Nations estimates the group collects up to $50 million a year from businesses in Kismayo, about half of its annual income.
Kenyan officials declared self-defense justifies crossing the border with Somalia, saying a recent spate of kidnappings threatened its security and constituted an attack.