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Kenyans close border with Somalia Kenyans close border with Somalia
(30 minutes later)
Kenya has shut its border with Somalia and will not allow more refugees into the country, says its foreign minister.Kenya has shut its border with Somalia and will not allow more refugees into the country, says its foreign minister.
Earlier the Kenyan authorities deported more than 420 Somali refugees who had crossed the border in recent days.Earlier the Kenyan authorities deported more than 420 Somali refugees who had crossed the border in recent days.
Somalis have been fleeing from conflict as Islamist militias hide out near the Kenyan border being pursued by Ethiopian and Somali soldiers. Aid workers are expressing frustration saying they are being prevented from helping those in need at the border.
Mainly women and children were deported after being taken from a transit camp in trucks, the UN refugee agency said. Somalis have been trying to escape from conflict as Islamist militias near the Kenyan border are being pursued by Ethiopian and Somali soldiers.
Meanwhile, European members of the Somali Contact group are meeting in Brussels to discuss how Europe can help peace efforts in Somalia. Kenyan Foreign Minister Raphael Tuju told reporters in Nairobi that they have now asked the transitional government and Ethiopia to establish internally displaced people camps 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. "We are not able to ascertain whether these people are genuine refugees or fighters and therefore its best that they remain in Somalia," said Mr Tuju.
Somalia's interim President Abdullahi Yusuf is in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, for talks with diplomats, while Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni is to travel to Ethiopia on Thursday to discuss the possible deployment of Ugandan troops to Somalia. Mr Tuju dismissed criticism by the UNHCR as misguided.
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. "Kenyans are overburdened, in fact Europe and America does not give us enough aid to support these refugees and its not a written rule that when there is fighting in Somalia that people should run to Kenya, other nations should also take the burden," he said.
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 African press fretsFragile peace fuels fears African press frets
"We are taking up this matter with the government officials because it's against 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 it's against international law to deny people access to humanitarian assistance under such circumstances," said Ms Mutuli.
The BBC's Bashkash Jugsodaay in Liboi in north-east Kenya says policemen have mounted a road block on the main road leading to the refugee reception centre there - denying aid agencies and journalists access. The Somali refugees, mainly women and children, were deported after being taken from the border transit camp at Liboi in north-east Kenya in government trucks, the UN refugee agency said.
The BBC's Bashkash Jugsodaay says policemen have mounted a road block on the main road leading to the refugee reception centre - denying aid agencies and journalists access.
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 than 100 Somali refugees have also been expelled.Further south, near the coastal island of Lamu, more than 100 Somali refugees have also been expelled.
PursuitPursuit
Meanwhile, Ethiopia and Somali government forces, with air support, have captured the Somali border town of Doble, where it is reported that around 4,000 refugees have been stranded.Meanwhile, Ethiopia and Somali government forces, with air support, have captured the Somali border town of Doble, where it is reported that around 4,000 refugees have been stranded.
Our reporter says that the Islamist militia who formerly held the town fled late on Tuesday night in about 100 technicals - machinegun-mounted pick-up trucks - carrying an estimated 600 to 700 fighters.Our reporter says that the Islamist militia who formerly held the town fled late on Tuesday night in about 100 technicals - machinegun-mounted pick-up trucks - carrying an estimated 600 to 700 fighters.
The Somali interim government's spokesman Ali Jama told AFP news agency that their forces were in pursuit of top Islamist leaders in dense border terrain.The Somali interim government's spokesman Ali Jama told AFP news agency that their forces were in pursuit of top Islamist leaders in dense border terrain.
"We are yet to pin-point where they are, but we believe they are hiding in the border forest," he said."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.
DifferencesDifferences
The two-week advance of heavily armed Ethiopian troops ended a six-month Islamist occupation which had brought a degree of stability to large areas of formerly lawless Somalia. Meanwhile, European members of the Somali Contact group are meeting in Brussels to discuss how Europe can help peace efforts in 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. 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.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi told MPs that he hoped his forces could withdraw within two weeks. Somalia's interim President Abdullahi Yusuf is in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, for talks with diplomats, while Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni is to travel to Ethiopia on Thursday to discuss the possible deployment of Ugandan troops to Somalia.
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. 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.
He 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. The two-week advance of heavily armed Ethiopian troops ended a six-month Islamist occupation which had brought a degree of stability to large areas of formerly lawless Somalia.
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. A deadline of Thursday has been set for Somalis in the capital to hand in their weapons, but the process has begun slowly.
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.
Mr Ghedi has also offered an amnesty to fleeing Islamist fighters if they give themselves up.