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Army launches assault in Comoros Comoros army seizes rebel island
(about 2 hours later)
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. Troops from the Comoros archipelago in the Indian Ocean have recaptured the island of Anjouan after a year-long rebellion, officials have said.
Defence chief of staff Mohamed Dosara said about 450 troops had landed at dawn, taking the airport and entering the main town, Mustamudu. They said troops backed, by an African Union force, had taken Anjouan's main city and airport with light resistance.
The island's renegade leader, Mohamed Bacar, is believed to be holding out with several hundred armed police. The whereabouts of the rebel leader, Col Mohammed Bacar, are unclear.
The Comoran troops are being supported by a 1,500-strong African Union force. His re-election as president of the semi-autonomous island of Anjouan last year had been declared illegal by the Comoran government and the AU.
On Monday, President Ahmed Mohamed Sambi said in a televised address that Anjouan would be "liberated" in the "coming hours or days". Surrender call
Mr Sambi said he had hoped that Mr Bacar and his supporters would "surrender themselves in order to avoid confrontation". Defence chief Mohamed Dosara said about 450 troops had landed at dawn in a seaborne assault, taking the airport at Ouani and later capturing the main city, Mutsamudu.
'Feet on the ground' The presidential palace in Mutsamudu was reported to be abandoned and soldiers are searching for Col Bacar and his supporters.
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. There are no reports of casualties, although mortar and machine-gun fire was heard as the troops landed early on Tuesday morning.
Mr Dosara told the BBC that troops had taken the island's second town, Domoni, as well as the airport in Ouani. The Comoran troops are being supported by a 1,500-strong African Union force, including Tanzanian and Sudanese soldiers.
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. I have ordered the Comoran army and the forces of our country's friends to bring Anjouan back under the rule of law and free her citizens Ahmed Mohamed SambiComoros President class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7312126.stm">In pictures: Comoros assault
Comoran President Ahmed Mohamed Sambi has said he had hoped that Col Bacar and his supporters would "surrender themselves in order to avoid confrontation".
"I have ordered the Comoran army and the forces of our country's friends to bring Anjouan back under the rule of law and free her citizens," Mr Sambi said on Monday night as the assault fleet sailed to Anjouan
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. Fractious history
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 overnight on Sunday, 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. The Comoros archipelago has had a fractious history since independence from France in 1975, experiencing more than 20 coups or attempted coups.
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. The three main islands of the archipelago lie 300km (186 miles) off Africa's east coast north of Madagascar.
Leaflets warned Anjouan's citizens that the assault would begin soon Mr Bacar was elected president of semi-autonomous Anjouan in 2002. His re-election in 2007 was declared illegal by the federal authorities on Grand Comore who declared Anjouan to be in rebellion.
In an interview on Thursday, Mr Bacar insisted he would not step down. The AU condemned Mr Bacar's move and agreed to provide troops to topple him.
"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.
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