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| Army launches assault in Comoros | Army launches assault in Comoros |
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| A military operation is under way in the Comoros archipelago in the Indian Ocean to end a year-old rebellion on the island of Anjouan. | A military operation is under way in the Comoros archipelago in the Indian Ocean to end a year-old rebellion on the island of Anjouan. |
| Defence chief of staff Mohamed Dosara said about 450 troops had landed at dawn, taking the airport and entering the main town, Mustamudu. | Defence chief of staff Mohamed Dosara said about 450 troops had landed at dawn, taking the airport and entering the main town, Mustamudu. |
| The island's renegade leader, Mohamed Bacar, is believed to be holding out with several hundred armed police. | The island's renegade leader, Mohamed Bacar, is believed to be holding out with several hundred armed police. |
| The Comoran troops are being supported by a 1,500-strong African Union force. | The Comoran troops are being supported by a 1,500-strong African Union force. |
| On Monday, President Ahmed Mohamed Sambi said in a televised address that Anjouan would be "liberated" in the "coming hours or days". | On Monday, President Ahmed Mohamed Sambi said in a televised address that Anjouan would be "liberated" in the "coming hours or days". |
| Mr Sambi said he had hoped that Mr Bacar and his supporters would "surrender themselves in order to avoid confrontation". | Mr Sambi said he had hoped that Mr Bacar and his supporters would "surrender themselves in order to avoid confrontation". |
| 'Feet on the ground' | 'Feet on the ground' |
| Mortar and machine-gun fire were first heard as dawn broke on Tuesday in Anjouan when the government force, believed to include Tanzanian and Sudanese AU troops, launched its amphibious assault on the island. | Mortar and machine-gun fire were first heard as dawn broke on Tuesday in Anjouan when the government force, believed to include Tanzanian and Sudanese AU troops, launched its amphibious assault on the island. |
| Mr Dosara told the BBC that troops had taken the island's second town, Domoni, as well as the airport in Ouani. | Mr Dosara told the BBC that troops had taken the island's second town, Domoni, as well as the airport in Ouani. |
| He later said that AU troops had entered Mutsamudu, where Mr Bacar has his headquarters. The renegade leaders' whereabouts are unclear, although clashes were reported near the presidential palace. | He later said that AU troops had entered Mutsamudu, where Mr Bacar has his headquarters. The renegade leaders' whereabouts are unclear, although clashes were reported near the presidential palace. |
| Residents of the island were pictured greeting the government forces with jubilation as they patrolled through the streets, with some of the crowds chanting "Bacar is a dog". | Residents of the island were pictured greeting the government forces with jubilation as they patrolled through the streets, with some of the crowds chanting "Bacar is a dog". |
| There has been no independent confirmation of the success of the government operation and telephone lines have been cut on the island. | There has been no independent confirmation of the success of the government operation and telephone lines have been cut on the island. |
| The authorities have said it is too early to know whether there have been any casualties. | The authorities have said it is too early to know whether there have been any casualties. |
| Five boats carrying the Comoran and AU troops had left the island of Moheli early on Monday, while a helicopter dropped leaflets over Anjouan warning citizens that the assault to retake the island would begin in hours. | Five boats carrying the Comoran and AU troops had left the island of Moheli early on Monday, while a helicopter dropped leaflets over Anjouan warning citizens that the assault to retake the island would begin in hours. |
| Mr Bacar has defied African Union and international calls to step down since proclaiming himself president in July 2007 after an election which the federal authorities declared illegal. | Mr Bacar has defied African Union and international calls to step down since proclaiming himself president in July 2007 after an election which the federal authorities declared illegal. |
| Leaflets warned Anjouan's citizens that the assault would begin soon | Leaflets warned Anjouan's citizens that the assault would begin soon |
| In an interview on Thursday, Mr Bacar insisted he would not step down. | In an interview on Thursday, Mr Bacar insisted he would not step down. |
| "I am still determined to defend Anjouan despite my concern that people are ready to come here and fire on the Anjouanese but I am continuing with my preparations to defend Anjouan," he told the AFP news agency. | "I am still determined to defend Anjouan despite my concern that people are ready to come here and fire on the Anjouanese but I am continuing with my preparations to defend Anjouan," he told the AFP news agency. |
| A history of political violence has left the Comoros archipelago desperately poor since independence from France in 1975. | |
| At times, the country has teetered on the brink of disintegration amid tensions between the semi-autonomous islands and the central government. | At times, the country has teetered on the brink of disintegration amid tensions between the semi-autonomous islands and the central government. |
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