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US urges more troops for Somalia | US urges more troops for Somalia |
(about 2 hours later) | |
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has called for more peacekeeping troops to be deployed urgently to Somalia to replace Ethiopian soldiers. | US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has called for more peacekeeping troops to be deployed urgently to Somalia to replace Ethiopian soldiers. |
She said the US appreciated the deployment of an advance Ugandan force but they "frankly need to be joined soon by other forces". | She said the US appreciated the deployment of an advance Ugandan force but they "frankly need to be joined soon by other forces". |
The US is offering to help African states who send troops to Somalia. | The US is offering to help African states who send troops to Somalia. |
Ms Rice is in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, for meetings on some of Africa's worst conflicts. | Ms Rice is in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, for meetings on some of Africa's worst conflicts. |
As well as Somalia, she is holding talks on the Democratic Republic of Congo and Sudan with regional presidents and ministers. | As well as Somalia, she is holding talks on the Democratic Republic of Congo and Sudan with regional presidents and ministers. |
'Robust forces' | 'Robust forces' |
Ms Rice said she and Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi had "emphasized the need for a ceasefire" between the Somali government and "non-extremist opposition groups". | |
She also said she had urged Mr Meles to contribute peacekeeping troops to Darfur in Sudan. | |
Ethiopian troops marched into Somalia a year ago to help Somalia's UN-backed interim government oust Islamist forces. | Ethiopian troops marched into Somalia a year ago to help Somalia's UN-backed interim government oust Islamist forces. |
AFRICA'S TROUBLE-SPOTS DR Congo - fighting in the east, recovering from a 1997-2002 civil war which claimed 3m livesSomalia - thousands killed or displaced in conflict between Ethiopian-backed government and Islamist insurgents Sudan - fragile peace between north and south, continuing conflict in Darfur Ethiopia-Eritrea - tense peace after a 1998-2000 border war claimed 80,000 lives | |
The US supported the intervention which has proven unpopular, with insurgents continuing to stage attacks. | The US supported the intervention which has proven unpopular, with insurgents continuing to stage attacks. |
The UN says that one million Somalis have been displaced by the fighting, including 60% of the capital's residents. | The UN says that one million Somalis have been displaced by the fighting, including 60% of the capital's residents. |
Last month, Mr Meles acknowledged his troops had become bogged down, blaming divisions within the Somali government and calling for other states to send peacekeepers. | |
"We do believe that peace-keeping efforts need to take place in Somalia," Ms Rice said on Wednesday. | "We do believe that peace-keeping efforts need to take place in Somalia," Ms Rice said on Wednesday. |
"We do believe that the Ethiopian forces should not have to stay in Somalia past a certain point but it's going to require peacekeeping forces to be fairly robust peacekeeping forces and so that will be part of my discussion." | "We do believe that the Ethiopian forces should not have to stay in Somalia past a certain point but it's going to require peacekeeping forces to be fairly robust peacekeeping forces and so that will be part of my discussion." |
Ms Rice was due to meet Somalia's new Prime Minister, Nur Hassan Hussein, later in Addis Ababa. | Ms Rice was due to meet Somalia's new Prime Minister, Nur Hassan Hussein, later in Addis Ababa. |
She said she would encourage him to engage the widest possible range of parties within his government. | She said she would encourage him to engage the widest possible range of parties within his government. |
DR Congo pledge | |
The US secretary of state also urged Mr Meles not to risk escalating tensions with neighbouring Eritrea. | |
A deadline set by an international border commission for the countries to demarcate their shared border expired on Friday without agreement. | A deadline set by an international border commission for the countries to demarcate their shared border expired on Friday without agreement. |
Her first talks were on the latest fighting in DR Congo, with the presidents of Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda, as well as Congolese ministers. | Her first talks were on the latest fighting in DR Congo, with the presidents of Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda, as well as Congolese ministers. |
They agreed to strengthen the Congolese security institutions, Ms Rice said after the talks. | They agreed to strengthen the Congolese security institutions, Ms Rice said after the talks. |
All countries agreed not to "harbour negative forces" - a reference to Rwandan Hutu rebels, which are at the heart of fighting across the region. | All countries agreed not to "harbour negative forces" - a reference to Rwandan Hutu rebels, which are at the heart of fighting across the region. |
The Congolese army, backed up by UN peacekeepers, is also trying to disarm a dissident Tutsi general. | The Congolese army, backed up by UN peacekeepers, is also trying to disarm a dissident Tutsi general. |
Laurent Nkunda refuses to join the army, saying his men must keep their arms to defend themselves against the Hutus. | Laurent Nkunda refuses to join the army, saying his men must keep their arms to defend themselves against the Hutus. |
Rwanda denies claims it is backing Gen Nkunda. | Rwanda denies claims it is backing Gen Nkunda. |
Ms Rice also said that what she called third-party involvement might be required. | Ms Rice also said that what she called third-party involvement might be required. |
Delegates said afterwards that this could mean American and European assistance in border monitoring. | Delegates said afterwards that this could mean American and European assistance in border monitoring. |
Sudanese peace | Sudanese peace |
On Sudan, Ms Rice is due to discuss the tensions in the US-brokered 2005 peace deal between north and south. | On Sudan, Ms Rice is due to discuss the tensions in the US-brokered 2005 peace deal between north and south. |
"That is really an agreement that we cannot afford to let unravel," she said. | "That is really an agreement that we cannot afford to let unravel," she said. |
She is also expected to discuss the conflict in Darfur with African officials. | She is also expected to discuss the conflict in Darfur with African officials. |
However, Sudan's government has signalled that it will not meet Ms Rice, the AP news agency reports. | However, Sudan's government has signalled that it will not meet Ms Rice, the AP news agency reports. |
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