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Kenya forces Somali refugees home Kenya forces Somali refugees home
(20 minutes later)
Kenyan authorities have deported more than 300 refugees who fled fighting across the border in Somalia.Kenyan authorities have deported more than 300 refugees who fled fighting across the border in Somalia.
The refugees fled Islamist militias driven from southern Somalia towards Kenya by Ethiopian and Somali soldiers.The refugees fled Islamist militias driven from southern Somalia towards Kenya by Ethiopian and Somali soldiers.
International law was broken when 340, mostly women and children, were driven in trucks from a Kenyan border transit camp, the UN refugee agency said.International law was broken when 340, mostly women and children, were driven in trucks from a Kenyan border transit camp, the UN refugee agency said.
Kenyan soldiers have sealed its border with Somalia and intensified screening to prevent militias arriving.Kenyan soldiers have sealed its border with Somalia and intensified screening to prevent militias arriving.
But the government has not formally declared the borders closed.But the government has not formally declared the borders closed.
Meanwhile, European members of the Somali Contact group are meeting in Brussels to discuss how Europe can help peace efforts in Somalia.Meanwhile, European members of the Somali Contact group are meeting in Brussels to discuss how Europe can help peace efforts in Somalia.
The EU is the largest aid donor to Somalia and has been heavily involved in the mediation process. Those taking part will be Britain, Italy, Norway, Sweden and Germany, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the European Union.The EU is the largest aid donor to Somalia and has been heavily involved in the mediation process. Those taking part will be Britain, Italy, Norway, Sweden and Germany, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the European Union.
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni is also to travel to Ethiopia to discuss the possible deployment of Ugandan troops to Somalia.Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni is also to travel to Ethiopia to discuss the possible deployment of Ugandan troops to Somalia.
Uganda is the only country to have made a firm commitment - of up to 1,000 soldiers - towards a planned African peacekeeping force for Somalia.Uganda is the only country to have made a firm commitment - of up to 1,000 soldiers - towards a planned African peacekeeping force for Somalia.
Road blocksRoad blocks
UNHCR spokesperson Millicent Mutuli says the Kenyan Red Cross has been denied access to the refugees who arrived in Kenya four days ago.UNHCR spokesperson Millicent Mutuli says the Kenyan Red Cross has been denied access to the refugees who arrived in Kenya four days ago.
Fragile peace fuels fears
"We are taking up this matter with the government officials because its against the international law to deny people access to humanitarian assistance under such circumstances," said Ms Mutuli."We are taking up this matter with the government officials because its against the international law to deny people access to humanitarian assistance under such circumstances," said Ms Mutuli.
The BBC's Bashkash Jugsodaay in Liboi says policemen have mounted a road block on the main road leading to the refugee reception centre at Liboi in north-east Kenya. Aid agencies and journalists are not been allowed there.The BBC's Bashkash Jugsodaay in Liboi says policemen have mounted a road block on the main road leading to the refugee reception centre at Liboi in north-east Kenya. Aid agencies and journalists are not been allowed there.
Our reporter says helicopters and hundreds of army and police have deployed in the border town.Our reporter says helicopters and hundreds of army and police have deployed in the border town.
Further south near the coastal island of Lamu more 100 Somali refugees have also been expelled.Further south near the coastal island of Lamu more 100 Somali refugees have also been expelled.
PursuitPursuit
The Somali interim government's spokesman Ali Jama told AFP news agency that their forces were in pursuit of top Islamist leaders in dense forests near the Kenyan border but had not caught anybody yet. "We are yet to pin-point where they are, but we believe they are hiding in the border forest," he said.The Somali interim government's spokesman Ali Jama told AFP news agency that their forces were in pursuit of top Islamist leaders in dense forests near the Kenyan border but had not caught anybody yet. "We are yet to pin-point where they are, but we believe they are hiding in the border forest," he said.
The Islamists say their retreat from advancing Ethiopian and Somali forces is tactical and have threatened to launch an insurgency.The Islamists say their retreat from advancing Ethiopian and Somali forces is tactical and have threatened to launch an insurgency.
On Tuesday, Somalia's interim President Abdullahi Yusuf met Kenyan leader Mwai Kibaki in Mombasa to discuss security.On Tuesday, Somalia's interim President Abdullahi Yusuf met Kenyan leader Mwai Kibaki in Mombasa to discuss security.
An official Kenyan statement quoted Mr Kibaki as urging all parties in Somalia to embrace dialogue. Mr Kibaki also said that Kenya would not be used as a refuge for people seeking to destabilise governments in the region.An official Kenyan statement quoted Mr Kibaki as urging all parties in Somalia to embrace dialogue. Mr Kibaki also said that Kenya would not be used as a refuge for people seeking to destabilise governments in the region.
In a separate development, Ethiopian helicopters pursuing Somali Islamists attempting to escape into Kenya bombed a Kenyan border post by mistake.In a separate development, Ethiopian helicopters pursuing Somali Islamists attempting to escape into Kenya bombed a Kenyan border post by mistake.
Our correspondent says the bombs which landed on the Kenyan side of the border, at Har Har, caused no casualties or damage.Our correspondent says the bombs which landed on the Kenyan side of the border, at Har Har, caused no casualties or damage.
DifferencesDifferences
The two-week advance of heavily armed Ethiopian forces ended a six-month Islamist occupation which had brought a degree of stability to large areas of formerly lawless Somalia.The two-week advance of heavily armed Ethiopian forces ended a six-month Islamist occupation which had brought a degree of stability to large areas of formerly lawless Somalia.
HAVE YOUR SAY The only solution in Somalia is sincerity of all the stakeholders Nwamaka Chude, Nigeria Send us your commentsHAVE YOUR SAY The only solution in Somalia is sincerity of all the stakeholders Nwamaka Chude, Nigeria Send us your comments
Thousands of Ethiopian soldiers are set to remain in Somalia to ensure stability, but splits have emerged over when they may leave.Thousands of Ethiopian soldiers are set to remain in Somalia to ensure stability, but splits have emerged over when they may leave.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi told MPs that he hoped his forces could withdraw within two weeks.Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi told MPs that he hoped his forces could withdraw within two weeks.
But the prime minister of Somalia's fragile interim government, Ali Mohamed Ghedi, says that heavily armed soldiers from Ethiopia would be needed for months.But the prime minister of Somalia's fragile interim government, Ali Mohamed Ghedi, says that heavily armed soldiers from Ethiopia would be needed for months.
Somalia's weak interim government wants Ethiopian forces to remain in the country until peacekeepers deploy, as they have few well-trained troops and are poorly placed to maintain law and order without help.Somalia's weak interim government wants Ethiopian forces to remain in the country until peacekeepers deploy, as they have few well-trained troops and are poorly placed to maintain law and order without help.
But the presence of Ethiopian troops on Somali soil could also damage the government's attempts to win widespread support, the BBC's Karen Allen says.But the presence of Ethiopian troops on Somali soil could also damage the government's attempts to win widespread support, the BBC's Karen Allen says.
As if to illustrate the divisions, the deputy prime minister in Somalia's transitional government, Hussein Aideed, has been criticised by the prime minister's spokesman after calling for unity and shared passports with Ethiopia.As if to illustrate the divisions, the deputy prime minister in Somalia's transitional government, Hussein Aideed, has been criticised by the prime minister's spokesman after calling for unity and shared passports with Ethiopia.
A deadline of Thursday has been set for Somalis in the capital to hand in their weapons, but not one weapon has so far been handed in.A deadline of Thursday has been set for Somalis in the capital to hand in their weapons, but not one weapon has so far been handed in.
Mr Ghedi has also offered an amnesty to fleeing Islamist fighters if they give themselves up.Mr Ghedi has also offered an amnesty to fleeing Islamist fighters if they give themselves up.