VOA NEWS AFRICA
Posted Wednesday, November 2nd, 2011 at 5:50 pm
Somalis are preparing themselves for air strikes by the Kenyan military after army spokesman Emmanuel Chirchir warned that Kenya plans to attacks militant bases across Somalia.
Chirchir said Kenyan military aircraft also plan to target weapons that were flown into Somalia on two planes and delivered to al-Shabab militant group. He urged Somalis to stay clear of those targets.
Kenya's military said Tuesday it had “reliably confirmed” that the planes landed in the southern Somali town of Baidoa, carrying arms destined for al-Shabab. Although Chirchir did not indicate where the planes originated, local media reports blamed Eritrea.
The government in Asmara dismissed the reports and released a statement calling the accusations “pure fabrication and outright lies.” Eritrea's Foreign Affairs Ministry said the reports were part of a “disinformation campaign” to undermine the government.
The United Nations has repeatedly accused Eritrea of arming al-Shabab and said the country has been funneling about $80,000 per month to people linked to the al-Qaida-linked group.
Kenyan troops moved into Somalia last month in pursuit of al-Shabab. Kenya has blamed the group for a spate of kidnappings and attacks on its soil and has vowed to continue fighting until the threat is eliminated.
Al-Shabab is fighting to overthrow Somalia's weak transitional government and impose a strict form of Islamic law. The group recently was pushed out of the capital, Mogadishu, but still controls large sections of southern and central Somalia.
Chirchir said Kenyan military aircraft also plan to target weapons that were flown into Somalia on two planes and delivered to al-Shabab militant group. He urged Somalis to stay clear of those targets.
Kenya's military said Tuesday it had “reliably confirmed” that the planes landed in the southern Somali town of Baidoa, carrying arms destined for al-Shabab. Although Chirchir did not indicate where the planes originated, local media reports blamed Eritrea.
The government in Asmara dismissed the reports and released a statement calling the accusations “pure fabrication and outright lies.” Eritrea's Foreign Affairs Ministry said the reports were part of a “disinformation campaign” to undermine the government.
The United Nations has repeatedly accused Eritrea of arming al-Shabab and said the country has been funneling about $80,000 per month to people linked to the al-Qaida-linked group.
Kenyan troops moved into Somalia last month in pursuit of al-Shabab. Kenya has blamed the group for a spate of kidnappings and attacks on its soil and has vowed to continue fighting until the threat is eliminated.
Al-Shabab is fighting to overthrow Somalia's weak transitional government and impose a strict form of Islamic law. The group recently was pushed out of the capital, Mogadishu, but still controls large sections of southern and central Somalia.
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