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Uganda troops 'arrive in Somalia' African forces arrive in Somalia
(about 1 hour later)
A small advance team of African Union peacekeepers has arrived in Somalia, Somali officials have said.A small advance team of African Union peacekeepers has arrived in Somalia, Somali officials have said.
Police sources and airport staff in the southern town of Baidoa told a BBC correspondent that 30 Ugandan soldiers had arrived in the town by plane. Police sources and airport staff in the southern town of Baidoa told a BBC correspondent that 30 soldiers had arrived in the town by plane.
However, a Ugandan military spokesman denied the report. A Ugandan army spokesman denied they were Ugandans, although their first contingent are due to head to Somalia.
A total of about 8,000 African Union (AU) peacekeepers are due to be sent to Somalia to replace Ethiopian troops, who helped oust Islamists last year. Some 8,000 AU peacekeepers are to be sent to Somalia to replace Ethiopian troops, who ousted Islamists last year.
Uganda is expected to send some 1,500 troops, but has said the deployment will not begin until next week. Uganda is expected to send some 1,500 troops to the capital, Mogadishu, and President Yoweri Museveni is due to see the troops off at a ceremony to be held in the eastern town of Jinja.
"There are no Ugandan troops in Baidoa, there are no Ugandan troops in Somalia," Paddy Ankuna, a military spokesman, said.
New violenceNew violence
Somalia has seen a new spike in violence in recent weeks, two months after Ethiopian troops backed a campaign against the Union of Islamic Courts by the country's transitional government.Somalia has seen a new spike in violence in recent weeks, two months after Ethiopian troops backed a campaign against the Union of Islamic Courts by the country's transitional government.
Officials have blamed the rise in violence on the high number of weapons available in the capital, Mogadishu.Officials have blamed the rise in violence on the high number of weapons available in the capital, Mogadishu.
So far only half of the 8,000 required soldiers have been contributed by AU member states.So far only half of the 8,000 required soldiers have been contributed by AU member states.
Nigeria has said its 850 soldiers will be deployed from the middle of April in three phases.Nigeria has said its 850 soldiers will be deployed from the middle of April in three phases.
Other countries that have pledged to send troops are Ghana, Burundi and Malawi.Other countries that have pledged to send troops are Ghana, Burundi and Malawi.