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US Somali air strikes 'kill many' US Somali air strikes 'kill many'
(10 minutes later)
The US has carried out at least two air strikes in southern Somalia against Islamist fighters, who the US believes include members of an al-Qaeda cell.The US has carried out at least two air strikes in southern Somalia against Islamist fighters, who the US believes include members of an al-Qaeda cell.
The targets were reported to have been tracked by aerial reconnaissance and then attacked by a US gunship launched from a US military base in Djibouti.The targets were reported to have been tracked by aerial reconnaissance and then attacked by a US gunship launched from a US military base in Djibouti.
The US says Somali Islamists sheltered al-Qaeda operatives linked to the 1998 US embassy bombings in East Africa.The US says Somali Islamists sheltered al-Qaeda operatives linked to the 1998 US embassy bombings in East Africa.
The Somali transitional government says many people were killed in the raid.The Somali transitional government says many people were killed in the raid.
The air strikes are taking place just a few days after the Union of Islamic Courts, which had taken control of much of central and southern Somalia during the past six months, was routed by soldiers from Ethiopia and Somalia's transitional government.The air strikes are taking place just a few days after the Union of Islamic Courts, which had taken control of much of central and southern Somalia during the past six months, was routed by soldiers from Ethiopia and Somalia's transitional government.
Location of militias and US Navy patrols Location of militias and US Navy patrols
The US accuses the Islamists of having links to al-Qaeda - charges they deny.The US accuses the Islamists of having links to al-Qaeda - charges they deny.
'Boy killed''Boy killed'
Witnesses told the BBC Somali service that an area near the town of Afmadow was being bombed on Tuesday.Witnesses told the BBC Somali service that an area near the town of Afmadow was being bombed on Tuesday.
The area was one of those hit on Monday, with unconfirmed reports of four civilians killed in the village of Hayo.The area was one of those hit on Monday, with unconfirmed reports of four civilians killed in the village of Hayo.
"My 4-year-old boy was killed in the strike," Mohamed Mahmud Burale told the BBC from the area."My 4-year-old boy was killed in the strike," Mohamed Mahmud Burale told the BBC from the area.
The US has a right to bombard terrorist suspects who attacked its embassies in Kenya and Tanzania Somali interim president Abdullahi Yusuf href="/1/hi/world/africa/6243907.stm" class="">US fears Somali 'terror' ties Fact file: AC-130 gunship The US has a right to bombard terrorist suspects who attacked its embassies in Kenya and Tanzania Somali interim president Abdullahi Yusuf href="/1/hi/world/africa/6244097.stm" class="">US twin aims in Somalia Fact file: AC-130 gunship
Afmadow is 250km north of Ras Kamboni, close to the Kenyan border, where Islamist fighters have fled and which Ethiopian and Somali government forces said on Monday they were on the verge of capturing.Afmadow is 250km north of Ras Kamboni, close to the Kenyan border, where Islamist fighters have fled and which Ethiopian and Somali government forces said on Monday they were on the verge of capturing.
The island of Badmado off Ras Kamboni was also hit by air strikes on Monday afternoon.The island of Badmado off Ras Kamboni was also hit by air strikes on Monday afternoon.
There has been no official confirmation from the Pentagon that the air strikes took place, but correspondents say a statement is expected within hours.There has been no official confirmation from the Pentagon that the air strikes took place, but correspondents say a statement is expected within hours.
"So many dead people were lying in the area. We do not know who is who, but the raid was a success," interim government spokesman Abdirahman Dinari told AFP news agency about Monday's raids."So many dead people were lying in the area. We do not know who is who, but the raid was a success," interim government spokesman Abdirahman Dinari told AFP news agency about Monday's raids.
"The target was a small village called Badel where the terrorists were hiding. And the gunship did hit on the exact target," he said, adding that Somali and Ethiopian troops were nearby."The target was a small village called Badel where the terrorists were hiding. And the gunship did hit on the exact target," he said, adding that Somali and Ethiopian troops were nearby.
The bombing is the first overt military action by the US in Somalia since 1994, the year after 18 US troops were killed in Mogadishu.The bombing is the first overt military action by the US in Somalia since 1994, the year after 18 US troops were killed in Mogadishu.
The attack was carried out by an Air Force AC-130, a heavily-armed gunship that has highly effective detection equipment and can work under the cover of darkness.The attack was carried out by an Air Force AC-130, a heavily-armed gunship that has highly effective detection equipment and can work under the cover of darkness.
Al-QaedaAl-Qaeda
Somalia's interim President Abdullahi Yusuf backed the US action.Somalia's interim President Abdullahi Yusuf backed the US action.
HAVE YOUR SAY They can all leave us alone, we Somalis already have a full plate when it comes to wars Maheran Man, Melbourne, Australia Send us your comments "The US has a right to bombard terrorist suspects who attacked its embassies in Kenya and Tanzania," he said in Mogadishu, a day after entering the city for the first time since the Islamists withdrew.HAVE YOUR SAY They can all leave us alone, we Somalis already have a full plate when it comes to wars Maheran Man, Melbourne, Australia Send us your comments "The US has a right to bombard terrorist suspects who attacked its embassies in Kenya and Tanzania," he said in Mogadishu, a day after entering the city for the first time since the Islamists withdrew.
More than 250 people died in the 1998 attacks in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam, for which al-Qaeda has claimed responsibility.More than 250 people died in the 1998 attacks in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam, for which al-Qaeda has claimed responsibility.
The US also holds the same cell responsible for attacks on an Israeli aircraft and Israeli-owned hotel in Kenya in 2002, in which 15 people died.The US also holds the same cell responsible for attacks on an Israeli aircraft and Israeli-owned hotel in Kenya in 2002, in which 15 people died.
In other developments:In other developments:
  • Ethiopia's Prime Minister Meles Zenawi says foreign fighters from Canada, Eritrea, Pakistan, Sudan, the United Kingdom and Yemen have been captured in Somalia
  • EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana tells the BBC that the EU is ready to help deploy troops in Somalia and casts doubt on the ability of the African Union to send a peacekeeping force
  • South Africa says it is considering a request to send troops to Somalia
  • The US military says it had sent an aircraft carrier to join three other US warships conducting anti-terror operations off the Somali coast
  • Ethiopia's Prime Minister Meles Zenawi says foreign fighters from Canada, Eritrea, Pakistan, Sudan, the United Kingdom and Yemen have been captured in Somalia
  • EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana tells the BBC that the EU is ready to help deploy troops in Somalia and casts doubt on the ability of the African Union to send a peacekeeping force
  • South Africa says it is considering a request to send troops to Somalia
  • The US military says it had sent an aircraft carrier to join three other US warships conducting anti-terror operations off the Somali coast
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